Panj Piaras ask SGPC to remove all the five Jathedars by Jan 1

AMRITSAR: In a fresh salvo, Panj Piaras (Sikh Religious Preachers) here today asked the Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) to remove all the five Jathedars Takhts by January, 2016 next year.Taking strong note for not implementing their earlier Gurmata (religious edict) which was issued October 23, Panj Piaras asked the SGPC to remove Jathedars by January 1, otherwise they would announce next course action on January 2, 2016 before the Sikh community.
However, earlier on October 21, these Panj Piaras have unprecedentedly challenging the working of Sikh clergy had summoned five Sikh High Priests including the Jathedar Akal Takhat Gyani Gurbachan Singh on October 23 to seek their explanation on pardoning Sirsa based Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Head and later withdrawing the pardon.When all the five jatehdars failed to appear before the Panj Piaras then they had asked the Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) to remove all the Jathedars of all Takhts forthwith.The Gurmata for summoning Gyani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Iqbal Singh Jathedar of Takht Patna Sahib, Giani Mal Singh Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Gurmukh Singh Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib and Giani Ram Singh Dhoopia, of Takht Hazoor Sahib, Nanded was passed by the five Panj Piaras.On October 21, one of the Panj Piara Bhai Satnam Singh had said that decision to pardon Dera Sirsa Chief was taken by Jathedars without consultation with any of the Sikh groups and intellectuals or taking them into confidence and has put the Sikh Qaum (Sikh community) in turmoil. Besides, it has put the Panth into an embarrassing position. They said that according to Sikh tenets even the jathedars of Takhts were answerable to the Panth so they must explain their decisions and the rationale behind the same.However, on the same day on October 21 in a retaliation move, Shriomani Gurdwara Pharbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar suspended all the Panj Pairas who dared to summon five Sikh head priests at Akal Takht. But later on, after few days bowing before the Sikh community pressure, without any condition SGPC had revoked suspension of Panj Piaras.