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SGPC president Makkar again summons
meeting on
Sehajdhari issue
Sach Kanwal Singh
 AMRITSAR:
Jolted by the beating it took over the Sehajdhari Sikh definition
controversy, the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) is
now mulling over ways to seek some credit for itself for making
amends and deciding to file a new affidavit in the Punjab and
Harayan High Court.
SGPC president
Avtar Singh Makkar, after due deliberations with Akali Dal patron
Parkash Singh Badal, has now convened a broad spectrum meeting of
Sikh organisations, including the Sant Samaj, Damdami Taksal and
Nihang Singh organisations at Amritsar on Friday, January 2.
It is still not
clear whether Akali Dal factions who had strongly taken up the
demand to withdraw the earlier controversial affidavit are being
invited. Among them was Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) of Bhai Daljit
Singh, Akali Dal (Amritsar),
Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat etc. The SGPC has also not invited anyone
from the DSGMC, something that is now seen as par for the course for
both organisations as neither recognises the other’s importance.
The members of
the Expert Committee set up by the SGPC have of course been invited
though it is reliably learnt that at least one member, Anurag Singh
who till now headed the Sikh History Research Board, will not be
attending. Anurag Singh's resignation is being accepted by Makkar
while he remains defiant and did not agree to the definition
unanimously approved by the other experts and panthic bodies.
 The
meeting will take place at Guru Nanak Niwas in the Golden Temple
Complex.
Makkar, said WSN
sources, has called the meeting
in order to
shield himself and the SGPC from any future allegations that having
committed hara kiri once, he did not take into account the panthic
bodies again before filing the new affidavit.
Meanwhile, Dal
Khalsa has demanded a probe into the role of Mattewals duo. Punjab
Advocate General H S Mattewal, a known supporter of giving
Sehajdharis the right to vote, and his clean shaven lawyer son Pavit
Mattewal are being widely seen as the behind-the-scenes players in
the row who were responsible for the earlier definition as per which
a Sehajdhari can cut his hair all through his life.
1 January
2009
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