Amritsar: A panthic gathering convened by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) at Gurdwara Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Sri Darbar Sahib complex on Saturday passed a resolution endorsing the Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s earlier directive declaring Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann as “Guru Dokhi” and “Panth Dokhi” in the controversial viral video case.
The resolution described the Akal Takht’s directive as the collective voice of the Guru Panth and alleged that the Chief Minister had disrespected Sikh principles and religious maryada.
It further stated that instead of acknowledging the alleged mistake, the Punjab Government and the Aam Aadmi Party were challenging the supremacy of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, which the gathering termed a matter of serious concern.
The resolution said that accepting the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the religious and collective duty of every Sikh. It added that any attempt by a political authority, government or individual to challenge the institution’s supremacy is against Sikh traditions and the maryada bestowed by the Sikh Gurus, and would not be accepted by the Sikh community.
The panthic gathering, which began around 11 am, was attended by representatives of a large number of Sikh organisations under the leadership of SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. After deliberations, the gathering unanimously reaffirmed the earlier decision taken by the five Sikh high priests in the matter.
Earlier, the five Sikh high priests had declared Bhagwant Mann as “Guru Dokhi” and “Panth Virodhi” and appealed to the Sikh community not to extend any support to him. The SGPC has also installed display boards carrying the Akal Takht’s directives at various gurdwaras.
The controversy intensified on Friday when some Sikh youths at Sri Harmandir Sahib requested devotees visiting under the Punjab Government’s Chief Minister Tirath Yatra Scheme to remove identity cards carrying the Chief Minister’s photograph before entering the shrine, citing the Akal Takht’s directive.
