Excommunicated Get Apology Chance: Sikh High Priests

[Archived_Member16]

Hindustan Times
　
Amritsar, June 06, 2010
First Published: 21:24 IST(6/6/2010)
Last Updated: 21:28 IST(6/6/2010)

Excommunicated get apology chance:
Sikh high priests

The Sikh high priests in a meeting at the Akal Takht on Sunday announced that all those excommunicated from the panth (community) could return to the mainstream if they apologised at Akal Takht within a month.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh said, "Keeping in mind the recent tricentenary celebrations in connection with Baba Banda Singh Bahadur’s Sirhind Fateh Divas, it was decided to give such a chance to all those who had been excommunicated."

If someone still did not turn up to apologise before the Akal Takht, the Sikh community must boycott such persons, he added.

The high priests also decided that nobody was allowed to play the role of Sikh Gurus or their relatives in any film. Even the role of ‘panj pyaras’ in any movie will be played by the ‘panj pyaras’ approved by the panth.

In another decision, only important or serious issues could come straight to the Akal Takht, whereas other issues will now be sent to the Dharam Parchar Committee of the SGPC. The pending issues at Akal Takht will now be sent to the Dharam Parchar Committee.

To look into these issues, the SGPC will form an expert panel, which will try to bring a solution to issues forwarded to the Dharam Parchar Committee, Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said.

The Akal Takht also asked the SGPC to seek suggestions from around the world for the upkeep of the gurdwara at Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.

© Copyright 2009 Hindustan Times

source: http://www.hindustantimes.com/Excommunicated-get-apology-chance-Sikh-high-priests/Article1-554040.aspx
　
　

 

[spnadmin]

Does this story require an expert analysis. Thanks so much! They never cease to amaze me.

 

[Archived_Member16]

Ex-Communicated Sikhs
Chance for them to get back into fold
Neeraj Bagga/Tribune News Service
​

Amritsar, June 6

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh in his address on the 26th anniversary of Operation Bluestar today urged all Sikh leaders to sink their differences and take up the issue of “blacklist” having names of Sikhs with the Central government.


The SGPC, along with religious organisations, performed the bhog of akhand path to seek peace for those who were killed during Operation Bluestar in the Golden Temple.

However, activists of radical Sikh organisations raised slogans in favour of “Khalistan” and Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the front of Akal Takht. SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Maan and other radical leaders also addressed the gathering and some of them were wearing T-shirts with pictures of Bhindranwale.

Meanwhile, the Jathedar expressed concern over the non-release of Sikh youths from jails though they had completed their sentences since long.

At a separate meeting of the five Sikh high priests held at Akal Takht today, it was decided to offer a golden chance to all ex-communicated persons to return to the mainstream of the Sikh community after seeking pardon for their mistakes at Akal Takht.

They also prohibited Sikh scholars and sangat from commenting on Dasam Granth unless the final decision was taken by Akal Takht in this regard.

Earlier, without naming the Dal Khalsa, which held a protest against the SGPC to build memorial to those killed in Operation Bluestar, he said it did not hold well to do politics in the name of “martyrs”.

He added that memorials were not the only way to pay regards to the departed souls, but the right way was to follow in their footsteps.

Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Tarlochan Singh, Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh and Harmandar Sahib head granthi Giani Jaswinder Singh were also present.

In another significant decision, they said only significant matters pertaining to the community could be brought to the notice of the Takht. They said all pending matters with the Takht would be handed over to the Dharam Prachar Committee of the SGPC to look into them.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100607/punjab.htm#10

 

[spnadmin]

Soul Jyot ji



Admin note: This story is so important that I have copied it as a separate thread, whilst leaving it here too, as it represents a important and related development of the initial article. :happykaur:

Connected thread http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/hard-talk/30851-ex-communicated-sikhs-chance-them-get.html