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Akal Takht
Jathedar says he’s working for release of Sikh detenues
WSN Network
 Giani
Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, who was here on a
special invitation of the managing committee of Gurdwara Sahib,
Fremont, received a huge and warm welcome from the sangat. Bhai
Jaswinder Singh Jandi, member of the Supreme Council, welcomed the
Singh Sahib and asked him to take the initiative of leading the
efforts to get released the Sikh youth languishing in jails since
1984.
He also appealed
to the Jathedar Sahib to work for the release of Prof Devinderpal
Singh Bhullar. Significantly, Prof Bhullar’s mother Bibi Upkar Kaur
ji was present on the occasion and it was in her presence that
Jathedar Sahib assured all support for the efforts.
Addressing
the Sikh sangat, Giani Gurbachan Singh ji hailed the initiatives
taken and plans drafted by the Fremont gurdwara management. Slamming
the Indian establishment for the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in 1984,
the jathedar said no one who ever attacked this center of Sikhism
survived more than 154 days.
Bibi Upkaar Kaur
also addressed the sangat and asked the Sikh community to work
towards securing the freedom of Prof Bhullar. The Jathedar Sahib
said he has already written in this connection to the Punjab
government. He appealed for unity in the panth and said it was time
that the community leaders focused on a practical approach and work.
American
Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (AGPC) coordinator Pritpal Singh
stressed the need for an independent identity of the Sikhs and urged
the Jathedar to take steps in this direction. He also asked him to
ensure that some system is evolved for the selection and appointment
of a Jathedar.
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Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, has written to the
Punjab Government asking it to work towards release of death row
convict Prof Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. |
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Pritpal Singh
also expressed concern at the trend of gurdwaras outside India also
going in for elections for their managing committees and said things
have come to such a pass that non-Sikhs were being made voters to
elect the managing panels. He asked the Jathedar to issue some kind
of an edict or directive about such practice.
Later, the
sangat did a parikarma of the gurdwara that was led by the hand
written bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib presented to the Fremont
Gurdwara by Bhai Jaswant Singh Khosa. Chief sewadar of the gurughar,
Bhai Harjot Singh, said the visit of Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar
of Akal Takht, was a matter of good fortune and Akal Purakh’s
blessings for the sangat of
Fremont.
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No way
non-Sikhs can be voters in gurdwaras: Jathedar
WSN Network
 FREMONT: On
his visit to Fremont, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh
visited Bhai Harpal Singh Mann’s residence for a meeting where
he also discussed plans and efforts for securing release of Prof
Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. Prof Bhullar’s mother Bibi Upkaar
Kaur was also present.
Later, the
Jathedar said while the gurughar was open to a person of any and
every persuasion, a voter with a right to elect the management
of any gurdwara has to be a Sikh and cannot be a non-Sikh. As
for the managers of the Gurdwara, Giani Gurbachan Singh said
they have to be Amritdharis.
When the
jathedar was told about the case of the
San Jose
gurdwara where non-Sikhs, particularly Hindus, have been made
voters with a right to exercise their franchise for election of
the managing committee, he said it was a most unfortunate
development. He said if any Sikh came forward before the Akal
Takht with a petition on this issue, the temporal seat will
definitely take a view on it.
The jathedar
was told about certain element’s continuous and persistent
efforts to find fault with one or the other issue. He was told
that there were elements who think it was okay to make votes of
Hindus in gurdwaras, help apply for illegal green cards, turn
sponsorships into a business, waste precious resources of the
gurughar or come to blows in front of the Indian consulate, but
such elements will not stop from finding faults with Akhand
Paths. The jathedar laughed at the big picture and urged the
sincere community members not to be disheartened by the efforts
of the few and instead focus on constructive issues.
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2
September 2009
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