SGPC dismisses Panj Pyaras

Amritsar : The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) dismissed four of the Panj Pyaras (or the five beloved ones) on Friday for demanding the dismissal of the heads of the five Takhts.SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar dismissed Satnam Singh Khanda, Tarlok Singh, Mangal Singh and Satnam Singh for defying religious decorum, although two members of the executive opposed the decision.The move comes a day after one of the Panj Pyaras — Major Singh — retired. The Panj Pyaras had demanded dismissal of the five Takht heads — Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, Takht Keshgarh Sahib Jathedar Mal Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib acting Jathedar Gurbaksh Singh, Takht Patna Sahib Jathedar Iqbal Singh and Takht Hazoor Sahib ‘granthi’ (priest) Ram Singh — for their controversial “flip-flop” in exonerating Dera Sacha Sauda’s head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case.
On September 24, the five high priests had issued ‘gurmata’ pardoning the Dera chief for his alleged blasphemous act of wearing attire similar to that of Guru Gobind Singh in 2007.The Panj Pyaras summoned the Jathedars in October, but the SGPC suspended them, only to revoke the decision later. Terming the suspension “unfortunate”, SGPC Executive Member Karnail Singh Panjoli said that committee’s action would further complicate the controversy.Panjoli said that executive members Mangal Singh and Harbhajan Singh Shergill, who had been demanding the removal of Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh could not present their case before the SGPC effectively, adding that suspending the Panj Pyaras would not solve the problem.Panjoli said there was anger in the Sikh community against the Akal Takht Jathedar for pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda Head Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh for his act, adding that it was time to resolve the issue afflicting the Sikh Panth.