Amritsar
The SGPC task force didn’t allow Master Johar Singh, former president of the Chhota Ghallughara Gurdwara Management Trust, Qadian

(Gurdaspur), to perform ‘sewa’ in the Golden Temple complex today. He had arrived in response to the ‘hukumnama’ pronounced by the

‘parallel’ Jathedars.

Master Johar Singh was held guilty of religious misconduct as he was at the helm when a management member, Buta Singh, was allegedly

caught in a compromising position with a woman on the gurdwara premises on August 11.

‘Sarbat Khalsa’-appointed Akal Takht acting Jathedar Dhyan Singh Mand and Takht Damdama Sahib ‘parallel’ Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal

had awarded him ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) on October 12.

Around 12:30 pm, members of the task force stopped him at one of the entrances to the shrine. Johar Singh said: “When I resisted, they told

me that they were acting on the orders of SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar and Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. They also

refused to acknowledge the authority of Jathedar Mand.”

“The SGPC has made the holiest Sikh shrine its fiefdom,” he added. Johar Singh was also summoned by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan

Singh over the August 11 incident, but he didn’t turn up.

Golden Temple manager Sulakhan Singh said Johar Singh was stopped from performing ‘sewa’ as he was going to do it on the directions of

those (‘parallel’ clergy) who had no official sanctity. “If he abides by the orders of Giani Gurbachan Singh, he will get the go-ahead for voluntary

service,” he added.