The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has called a special meeting of its executive on February 26 to decide on its next move after the 72-hour deadline for Golden Temple head granthi Giani Raghbir Singh to prove his corruption accusations ended.
The SGPC had served a 72-hour ultimatum on Giani Raghbir to prove the allegations that the apex gudwara panel was mired in corruption. The deadline ended on Monday.
The move comes after the Sikh body did not receive any reply from Giani Raghbir Singh, an Akal Takht former Jathedar.
According to sources, the main agenda of the meeting will be confrontational stand taken by Giani Raghbir Singh and the ignoring of the SGPC ultimatum.
They said Giani Amarjit Singh had already been appointed the officiating head granthi of the Golden Temple, replacing Giani Raghbir Singh.
Meanwhile, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur said ideally, the former Jathedar should have aired his grievances to Sikh body president Harjinder Singh Dhami.
She said he might have been forced to do so after he was sent on long leave.
She said the confrontation would not do any good to either side.
Tarlochan Singh, former chairman of the National Commission for Minorities and former Rajya Sabha member, expressed his dismay at the turn of events.
He said people holding esteemed religious positions should exercise restraint, instead of washing the dirty linen in public. He said it casts cascading impact on the psyche of Sikhs.
SGPC invites passports from devotees
The SGPC has invited passports from devotees for the jatha to visit historic gurdwaras in Pakistan on the martyrdom anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev.
The jatha will travel to Pakistan in June, for which the process has been initiated.
SGPC secretary Partap Singh said the devotees interested to go to Pakistan could send their passports to the office of the Sikh body by March 5.
Along with their identity cards, the devotees should also submit the recommendation letter of the SGPC member from their areas. A copy of the ration card, Aadhaar card or voter card can be given for identity verification