AMRITSAR: In an edict issued from Akal Takht the highest Sikh temporal seat, Jathedar Akal Takht Gyani Harpreet Singh here today declared SGPC member Gurinderpal Singh Gora and Rattan Singh Jafarwal a former member of religious promotion committee of SGPC ‘Tankhaiya’ (guilty) as per Sikh rituals.
Jatehdar said that they were declared ‘Tankhaiya’ for keeping relationship with the former Akali cabinet minister and SGPC member Sucha Singh Langah. SGPC was also directed to expel these two people from the all positions in the SGPC.
Issuing directions to SGPC, Jathedar said that if any other Sikh leader found keeping relations with Sucha Singh Langah should also be removed from all positions from religious body. To find out all such persons, a subcommittee to be formed by SGPC. The same step should also be followed by the heads of Sikh political outfits, said Jatehdar.
Yesterday, the ex-communicated Langah all of sudden was exonerated by the ‘panj pyaras’ at Gurdwara Garhi Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Gurdwara in Dhariwal, Gurdaspur against the set procedure of Sikh religion.
Langah as excommunicated from Akal Takht on October 2017 from Sikh Panth (community) when he was arrested by Gurdaspur Police in rape case on the basis of complaint filed with police by victim. A case under Sections 376 (rape), 384 (extortion), 420 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC was registered.
Yesterday, in the Gurdwara, Langah, along with his family including Gora and Jaffarwal, formally appeared before the ‘panj pyaras’ of Taruna Dal, a Nihang Sikh organization, to submit apology. After listening Langah, the ‘panj pyaras’ pronounced ‘Tankhah’ (religious punishment) to sweep the gurdwara with broom for one hour daily for 21 days and dusting of shoes of visiting devotees and washing utensils in the community kitchen.
Langah bypassed Akal Takhat and sought help from other gurdwara since Akal Takhat was not willing to take him back in Sikh fold.
Earlier, in the month of March Langah approached Akal Takhat pleaded for clemency, sought home coming (to get him back in Sikh fold) but went unheard.
In a petition to Akal Takhat, Langah had urged jatehdar Akal Takhat for clemency, said he might have committed mistakes in past knowingly or unknowingly. ‘To err is human’ may kindly be extended clemency, as for him it was tough to remain in isolation after his expulsion from Sikh fold.
Earlier, last year on 17th October 2019 Langah had also made similar appeal to jathedar Akal Takhat but went unheard.