Rival groups clash as Bibi Jagir Kaur
defies Akal Takht yet again
Neena Chaudhary in Amritsar
Rival groups supporting Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee chief Bibi Jagir Kaur and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Puran Singh clashed in Amritsar on Sunday after the former forced her entry into the Akal Takht building and offered prayers.
Bibi Jagir Kaur was ex-communicated from the Sikh panth on January 25 for having supported the implementation of a new radical calendar. On Sunday she was supposed to present herself before a panel of designated singh sahibs (apex clerics) at the Alak Takht and seek forgiveness.
However, as she arrived at the Alak Takht it became clear that she was in no mood to say sorry. She broke the cordon thrown around the building by Giani Puran Singh's supporters entered the sanctum sanctorum and offered prayers even as the rival groups clashed both within and outside the building.
Giani Puran Singh's supporters wanted Bibi Jagir Kaur to first present herself before the
Akal Takht by appearing in the courtyard facing the building.
The armed supporters had their weapons cocked and would have begun shooting if some of the senior priests had not intervened.
Though Giani Puran Singh was present in the building as the drama unfolded he never came face to face with the SGPC chief.
Later, however, he appeared in the gallery and declared that Bibi Jagir Kaur would stay ex-communicated.
He also ex-communicated five others - including three of the designated singh sahibs - for aligning with Bibi Jagir Kaur.
Those excommunicated on Sunday included the jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, head granthi of Akal Takht, Giani Bhagwan Singh, an SGPC member, Pritam Singh Bhatia and a lawyer Jaswinder Singh.
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