Vedanti paid price for praising Manmohan Singh

Amritsar, August 5, : Senior Congress leaders from Majha have strongly criticized the Shiromani Akali Dal leadership for unceremoniously removing Joginder Singh Vedanti from the post of Jathedar Akal Takht.

In a press statement issued here, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Harminder Singhill, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Sawinder Singh Katnunangal, Jasbir Singh Dimpa said that Jathedar Vedanti paid the price of praising the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Jathedar Vedanti had stated that all Sikhs were proud of Dr Manmohan Singh.

"The praise of Dr. Singh by Akal Takht Jathedar irked Sukhbir Badal andhief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, so they unceremoniously removed Vedanti from the post," alleged the Congress leaders.

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Harminder Singh Gill said, "Being a Sikh we are concerned about the dignity of the Akal Takht, so we are issuing this statement by rising above party lines".

They further added, "Badals are running the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) as their own fiefdom."

Randhawa and Gill said that this was not the first time that a Jathedar or Sikh Scholar was removed for praising a congressmen. Earlier the Badals had removed Manjit Singh Calcutta, when he had praised Sonia Gandhi for elevating Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.

They said that the present working of SGPC not only puts the image of the Jathedar at stake, but also compromised the credibility of the SGPC.

The duo critisised the Badal family for dabbling in Gurdwara affairs and politics and termed it as unfortunate.

They further said that the Jathedar of the Akal Takht should be independent of all kinds of political and administrative pressures and manipulations and should be so elected that they enjoy the confidence of the entire Sikh Panth.

ANI