Giani Raghubir Singh appointed Akal Takht Jathedar

Giani Raghubir Singh appointed Akal Takht Jathedar

Amritsar: In a dramatic turn of events, the officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Harpreet Singh has been relieved of his charge, whereas the appointing authority Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said that he had “volunteered” to quit. The SGPC, after holding its executive body meeting here, appointed Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib acting Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh as the new Jathedar of the Akal Takht.

Giani Sultan Singh, the “Granthi Singh” of the Golden Temple, has been appointed Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar. Giani Harpreet Singh will continue to serve as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo.

Announcing this, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said Giani Harpreet Singh who held the dual charge of the Akal Takht and Takht Damdama Sahib had willingly decided to vacate the Akal Takht’s “acting” charge.

At present, Giani Harpreet Singh is on a foreign tour and is expected to return shortly. “It would be wrong to interpret that the SGPC has removed Giani Harpreet Singh. I was in touch with him. He had volunteered to leave the “acting” services of the Akal Takht, yet he would continue to hold the charge of Takht Damdama Sahib. Since there was a long-pending demand of appointing a regular Jathedar of the Akal Takht from various quarters, it was fulfilled. The executive has chosen Giani Raghubir Singh as Akal Takht Jathedar on a regular basis,” he said.

Meanwhile, due to paucity of contenders for the vacancies in the Golden Temple, Giani Raghubir Singh would also hold the additional charge as “Head Granthi” of the Golden Temple. Similarly, Giani Sultan Singh would be the additional “Granthi” of the Golden Temple, till further directions.