Calling for unity among Sikhs, former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur on Saturday said it was time to end divisions within the community. She said whenever the Jathedars come together, their focus should be on strengthening the Sikh Panth and working for its welfare.
She also warned against using Sri Akal Takht Sahib to settle personal or political scores. She said such actions weaken the dignity and authority of the highest temporal seat of the Sikh community.
Kaur said the current controversy is linked to the alleged immoral conduct of an individual and should not be projected as an issue concerning Sri Akal Takht Sahib or the entire Sikh Panth.
She said turning personal or political disputes into Panthic issues only harms the institution's credibility and distracts attention from the real concerns facing the Sikh community.
According to Kaur, the pressing Panthic issues include government interference in Sikh institutions, the delay in SGPC elections, and interference in gurdwaras and Sikh Takhts. She said these are the matters on which the community should unite and raise its voice.
She also said political parties should fight their electoral battles on their own, especially with the Punjab Assembly elections drawing closer. Religious institutions should not be dragged into political rivalries, she added.
Highlighting the importance of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Kaur said every directive issued by the Jathedar is treated as an order by the Sikh community. Therefore, such decisions must be taken with great care and responsibility.
Referring to the Hukamnama issued on December 2, 2024, she said the Sikh community had accepted it wholeheartedly. However, she added that any Hukamnama that fails to receive the Panth's acceptance eventually loses its relevance.
She also cited the controversy involving Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, saying the earlier Hukamnama related to him had to be revisited because it was not accepted by the Sikh community.
Kaur urged the Jathedars to remain independent and not come under pressure from any political party. She stressed that preserving the dignity, sanctity and respect of Sri Akal Takht Sahib must remain their foremost responsibility.
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