Citing personal reasons, Takht Harimandar Ji Patna Saheb Committee President Jagjot Singh Sohi, General Secretary Indarjeet Singh, and Superintendent Daljit Singh failed to appear today 5 December 2023, before the Akal Takht appointed Enquiry Panel to explain their conduct about forcibly removing Sikh Sangat from the Darbar Saheb at Patna Sahib during the visit of the Indian President Draupadi Murmu to the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh -Takht Patna Saheb, some two months ago. WSN Reports.

While an attempt was made to keep the whole episode of the trio of the President-General Secretary-Superintendent of Takht Patna Saheb being summoned to Akal Takht under the wraps, it is now public knowledge that they have once again dodged the issue on personal pretexts. WSN has learned that they were to appear before the Committee but till the last hours, they did not turn up and had submitted personal reasons for non-attendance.

Earlier too, in response to the summons of the Akal Takht sent on 23 October, the Jathedar through his assistant had sought an explanation. The Akal Takht letter had said, “We have received written complaints and videos from the Sangat stating that on the evening of 18-10-2023, during the visit of the President of India to Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Patna Sahib, the Sangat present in the Darbar Hall of Takht Sahib were expelled from Darbar Sahib and mistreated. Furthermore, a separate throne-like area was created inside the Darbar Sahib for the seating of the President, constituting a severe violation of Maryada.”

The letter sought a written clarification within a week.

The agitated Sikh Sangat of Patna had sent in detailed submissions to the Jathedar Akal Takht regarding the incident and had urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to make immediate intervention to ensure that such violation of Maryada and disrespect of Sangat does not happen again at Takht Patna Saheb or any other historical Gurdwara or any Gurdwara whatsoever.”

Watchdog body The Sikh Collective had also appealed to Jathedar Akal Takht to take serious note of this violation of Sikh traditions in Gurdwara management.

A member of the Sikh Sangat Iqbal Singh Lucky Bagga speaking to the World Sikh News said, “We know that the excuses offered are plain lies. This Committee is a bunch of liars. However, we are satisfied that the Akal Takht Saheb has taken note of this digression of Maryada and we hope that the Sikh authorities will take this to its logical conclusion.”

“We know that the excuses offered are plain lies. This Committee is a bunch of liars. However, we are satisfied that the Akal Takht Saheb has taken note of this digression of Maryada and we hope that the Sikh authorities will take this to its logical conclusion.”

Iqbal Singh Lucky Bagga, Member, Sikh Sangat, Patna

“While so many days have passed by, we are still hurt by what happened when the Indian President visited Takht Patna Saheb.”

Significantly the written submission of the Takht Patna Saheb Committee President and General Secretary offered barely any explanation and an attempt was made to put the entire blame onto the Superintendent Daljit Singh’s misconduct.

Jaspal Singh, personal assistant to Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Raghbir Singh, while speaking to this correspondent confirmed the non-attendance of the office-bearers from Patna and informed that “a new date will be given to them for their appearance at Akal Takht Saheb.”