No Reputed Sikh Personality Willing To Be Badal’s Appointed Jathedar

AMRITSAR SAHIB—Behind closed doors, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), which controls majority of the prominent Sikh institutions, including the SGPC, is making efforts to replace it’s “Jathedars” deployed at Akal Takht Sahib and other Takhts, to try and regain credibility among the Sikh Panth. However, it is failing in finding reputed Sikh personalities for the posts as no such personality are ready to accept the offer from the SAD (B).
According to sources, the SAD (B) is facing a credibility crisis as it is not succeeding in persuading any noted Sikh personality who carries a good reputation within the community. The Sikh personalities who have refused to accept the SAD (B) offer include noted Sikh preacher Giani Pinderpal Singh and Sri Darbar Sahib head Granthi Giani Jagtar Singh.Punjab chief minister Parkash Badal has even approached Punjab University Patiala vice-chancellor Dr. Jaspal Singh who also denied assuming the charge, said sources. On the other hand, the SGPC’s secretary Roop Singh who carries a good reputation in Panth, is currently being persuaded, but he is showing no interest in accepting the post.The credibility of Badal’s “Jathedars” shot down after they pardoned controversial Sirsa based cultist Gurmeet Ram Rahim who hurt Sikh sentiments in 2007 by wearing attire which resembled that of Guru Gobind Singh.As Sikh sentiments still sustain injuries caused by the cultist, deep outrage triggered among Sikhs against the “Jathedars”. Subsequently, Sikh leaders organized a Sarbat Khalsa and replaced the Jathedars with those accepted by the whole panth.. However, Badal has continued to keep his previous “Jathedars” going against the Sarbat Khalsa’s decision. The Akal Takht Sahib’s Panj Pyaras also directed Sikhs to boycott the previous ‘puppet’ Jathedars. In this regard, the SAD (B) is finding itself as beleaguered and started efforts to replace their own Jathedars for damage control.