Bhai Pinderpal Singh ‘Approached’ To Head Akal Takht

[hrman]

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is contemplating to pick eminent Sikh kathavachak (preacher) Giani Pinderpal Singh (49) as the Akal Takht jathedar to replace the beleaguered Giani Gurbachan Singh.

The development comes in the backdrop of the controversial decision taken at the radicals’ Sarbat Khalsa to ‘appoint’ former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh’s assassin Jagtar Singh Hawara as the Akal Takht jathedar.

As per reports, speculation is rife in Sikh circles that a person like Pinderpal would be acceptable to Sikhs in India as well as abroad, be it moderate or hardliners, to head the highest temporal seat of the community.

“A person like him (Pinderpal) can certainly help bring the Sikh community out of the current crisis, but it remains to be seen whether he would accept the post of the Akal Takht head or not,” said SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, adding that it was premature to reach any conclusion.

Pinderpal, who hails from Tharwa Majra village in Karnal (Haryana), lives in Ludhiana. Sources say he is being persuaded by the SGPC and other Sikh bodies to head the Akal Takht.

In August 2008, he was approached by the SGPC to take over as the Akal Takht jathedar after the ouster of then jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, but he refused the offer.

Talking to HT on the phone, Pinderpal said, “In the current situation, there is an acute deficit of trust and faith among the Sikhs. No Sikh believes in the other. Moreover, when there are two jathedars (one appointed by the SGPC, the other by the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’), it is very difficult for both to prove who is the real one.”

Evading queries on being approached to head the Akal Takht, he said a priest could not be a leader.

Pinderpal, a product of Gurmat Missionary College, Rupnagar, is known to focus on Gurbani rather than criticising the political set-up in Sikh institutions. Considered to be in the league of preacher Sant Singh Maskeen, he has a popular slot on a Punjabi TV channel for performing ‘katha’ daily at 9am.

He got upset with the SGPC when he was told late last month to wind up his scheduled 10-day ‘katha’ on the fourth day because of his comments on the Panthic crisis, made at Manji Sahib on the premises of the Golden Temple.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/preacher-giani-pinderpal-singh-approached-to-head-akal-takht/story-Xr4dzNnbxmT3SUH4xbLYAI.html

[simran345]

He should say no I think. They are only doing this to cover themselves.

"Pinderpal said, In the current situation, there is an acute deficit of trust and faith among the Sikhs. No Sikh believes in the other. Moreover, when there are two jathedars (one appointed by the SGPC, the other by the Sarbat Khalsa), it is very difficult for both to prove who is the real one."

He's right about this.

I think if he takes the position it will affect his spiritual avasta. They will ruin him too.

[lsingh]

One thing is clear that Gurbachan Singh's days are numbered. He will take the blame for the current situation and Badal will say everything is resolved.

[simran345]

Now I'm seeing what Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale was getting at. Could this be what he was referring to? Bit confusing.

Hindustantimes has reported it, so I'll wait for the other media on this.

[ramghariasingh]

[lsingh]

We should help the Singhs that have been charged with sedition and risked their lives. Sedition carries life sentence/ death. Maybe those that stayed away from the Sarbat Khalsa could help.

[Cisco_Singh]

Whoever takes any up any role from SGPC is a panthic traitor it's as simple as that.

The panth has spoken via Sarbat Khalsa, we have new jathedars. This is just a ploy by Badal to create division and try to fool sangat. SGPC has lost its legitimacy it needs removing completely.

Pinderpal Singh is talking rubbish, he says it's confusing when there 2 jathedars one appointed by SGPC and one appointed by Sarbat Khalsa. There is no confusion SGPC are the modern dat equivalent of corrupt masands . Sarbat Khalsa is the voice of the panth.. There is no confusion.

[jkvlondon]

Whoever takes any up any role from SGPC is a panthic traitor it's as simple as that.

The panth has spoken via Sarbat Khalsa, we have new jathedars. This is just a ploy by Badal to create division and try to fool sangat. SGPC has lost its legitimacy it needs removing completely.

Pinderpal Singh is talking rubbish, he says it's confusing when there 2 jathedars one appointed by SGPC and one appointed by Sarbat Khalsa. There is no confusion SGPC are the modern dat equivalent of corrupt masands . Sarbat Khalsa is the voice of the panth.. There is no confusion.

he is saying that he backs the sarbat khalsa without sounding like he is , he is not a fool he knows the panth needs him and all the rehitvaan leaders they can keep. Saying anything other than what he said is putting him in the jail for sedition too.

[Cisco_Singh]

he is saying that he backs the sarbat khalsa without sounding like he is , he is not a fool he knows the panth needs him and all the rehitvaan leaders they can keep. Saying anything other than what he said is putting him in the jail for sedition too.

So in plain speak he is lying because he is he scared he will get arrested if he speaks the truth ? The actions of a Sikh are to speak the truth even it means courting arrest, not lying to save your own skin.

Would Bhindranewale have acted like this ?

[jkvlondon]

So in plain speak he is lying because he is he scared he will get arrested if he speaks the truth ? The actions of a Sikh are to speak the truth even it means courting arrest, not lying to save your own skin.

Would Bhindranewale have acted like this ?

use hosh not josh ...if all the trustworthy get sent to jail who will help bring panth to victory