SGPC Wants New Takht Jathedars to Fit in With Badal Party
Posted: 18 Jan 2016 07:56 AM PST
CM Parkash Badal (center) , Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal (left), Avtar Makkar (Right) – Tribune Photo Vicky Gharu
CHANDIGARH, Punjab—Information from internal sources have revealed to Sikh24 that the core committee of the SGPC was preparing to appoint new Takht Jathedars at Akal Takht Sahib, Takht Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Damdama Sahib.
A senior official of the SGPC told Sikh24 that the executive members have been asked to deliberate upon new names to be announced as Takht Jathedars.
On the condition of anonymity, the leader said that the SGPC was finding it hard to decide upon names to fill these positions. He added that the new names were being scrutinized to fit in with the climate of current Punjab.
“The SGPC is searching for names that would have a clean image and can adhere to the policies of the Badal party,” he added.
He said that the SGPC executives have admitted that the Takht Jathedars have lost their credibility by granting an unsought pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim in blasphemy charges. He added that the SGPC members have been asked to propose the strategies to overcome from the loss of the vote bank that Akali Dal has suffered in the last three months.
However, on being contacted by Sikh24, a spokesperson for the Akali Dal (Badal) expressed denial of such information and said that the Akali Dal doesn’t interfere in the SGPC’s workings.