Haryana gurdwara panel row, clashes troubled Akal Takht

Amritsar, The tug of war between the ruling SAD and Haryana Sikhs over the formation of a separate gurdwara panel dominated the Sikh politics in the year gone by which also witnessed bloody clashes at Takht Sri Patna Sahib as well as Akal Takht.
The year began on a violent note with a clash breaking out between two groups at Takht Sri Patna Sahib on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 7 over the appointment of Giani Partap Singh as additional granthi.
Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh and others were injured in the clash that witnessed the use of sharp weapons.
Another violent clash took place in the middle of the year at Akal Takht on the occasion of Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6. At least 12 persons, including six SGPC employees, were injured in the clash between the SGPC task force and activists of the SAD (A) and other radical Sikh outfits. The incident sent shock waves among the Sikh community besides triggering panic among tourists visiting the holy city.
Hectic political activities began in Haryana and Punjab after the then Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced the constitution of separate HSGMC in Kaithal on July 6. The issue flared up after Akal Takht excommunicated the then Haryana Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha, Haryana Sikh leaders Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Deedar Singh Nalwi from the Sikh community for “conniving with the Congress” to divide the SGPC.
Apprehending an attempt to takeover Haryana gurdwaras by the HSGMC, the SGPC rushed its employees to Haryana to strengthen the security of shrines there. Besides, senior SAD leaders, MLAs and former MLAs were also assigned duties in Haryana.
Though the SGPC maintained its hold on the historic gurdwara, the HSGMC managed to wrest control of a gurdwara at Gohla Cheeka from the SGPC. The matter is now in the court.
The Nanakshahi calendar row continued to haunt the Sikh community. The Sikh clergy’s move to change the date of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary from December 28 to January 7 sparked a major row, forcing Akal Takht to backtrack within a week. The date was changed in view of the fact that it was coinciding with the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas. The controversy forced the ruling Akali Dal to do a rethink on the calendar issue. It is planning to revert to the Bikrami calendar for observing Sikh events. The Sant Samaj has already supported the demand, saying it will end the confusion.
The year also saw former militant Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa resuming his hunger strike, seeking the immediate release of Sikh detainees languishing in different jails of the country even after serving their jail term.
State Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia and former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu got embroiled in “gurbani” row. Majithia was accused of distorting “gurbani” during the Lok Sabha election campaign in Amritsar for which he was awarded “tankhah” (religious punishment). Sidhu courted a similar controversy in Ludhiana in November. He sent a written apology to Akal Takht following an outrage.
Amritsar, The tug of war between the ruling SAD and Haryana Sikhs over the formation of a separate gurdwara panel dominated the Sikh politics in the year gone by which also witnessed bloody clashes at Takht Sri Patna Sahib as well as Akal Takht.
The year began on a violent note with a clash breaking out between two groups at Takht Sri Patna Sahib on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary on January 7 over the appointment of Giani Partap Singh as additional granthi.
Patna Sahib Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh and others were injured in the clash that witnessed the use of sharp weapons.
Another violent clash took place in the middle of the year at Akal Takht on the occasion of Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6. At least 12 persons, including six SGPC employees, were injured in the clash between the SGPC task force and activists of the SAD (A) and other radical Sikh outfits. The incident sent shock waves among the Sikh community besides triggering panic among tourists visiting the holy city.
Hectic political activities began in Haryana and Punjab after the then Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced the constitution of separate HSGMC in Kaithal on July 6. The issue flared up after Akal Takht excommunicated the then Haryana Finance Minister Harmohinder Singh Chatha, Haryana Sikh leaders Jagdish Singh Jhinda and Deedar Singh Nalwi from the Sikh community for “conniving with the Congress” to divide the SGPC.
Apprehending an attempt to takeover Haryana gurdwaras by the HSGMC, the SGPC rushed its employees to Haryana to strengthen the security of shrines there. Besides, senior SAD leaders, MLAs and former MLAs were also assigned duties in Haryana.
Though the SGPC maintained its hold on the historic gurdwara, the HSGMC managed to wrest control of a gurdwara at Gohla Cheeka from the SGPC. The matter is now in the court.
The Nanakshahi calendar row continued to haunt the Sikh community. The Sikh clergy’s move to change the date of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary from December 28 to January 7 sparked a major row, forcing Akal Takht to backtrack within a week. The date was changed in view of the fact that it was coinciding with the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas. The controversy forced the ruling Akali Dal to do a rethink on the calendar issue. It is planning to revert to the Bikrami calendar for observing Sikh events. The Sant Samaj has already supported the demand, saying it will end the confusion.
The year also saw former militant Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa resuming his hunger strike, seeking the immediate release of Sikh detainees languishing in different jails of the country even after serving their jail term.
State Revenue Minister Bikram Majithia and former Amritsar MP Navjot Singh Sidhu got embroiled in “gurbani” row. Majithia was accused of distorting “gurbani” during the Lok Sabha election campaign in Amritsar for which he was awarded “tankhah” (religious punishment). Sidhu courted a similar controversy in Ludhiana in November. He sent a written apology to Akal Takht following an outrage.

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