G.S. Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, March 3
Hours after submitting his resignation on Sunday, Takht Patna Sahib
Jathedar Giani Iqbal Singh, who faced controversy due to his marital
ties and violating Sikh Rehat Maryada (tenets), took a U-turn hours
later.
While Takht Patna Sahib Management Board president Avtar Singh Hit told
that the resignation has been accepted and the process is on to appoint
an officiating Jathedar in the board meeting scheduled tentatively for
March 5, Iqbal Singh claimed that he had withdrawn his resignation on
the instance of the ‘Sangat’ of Patna Sahib.
Iqbal Singh said he had handed over his resignation and keys of the
Takht to the general secretary of board Mahinder Pal Singh Dhillon, who
refused to accept it. “Later, ‘sangat’ gathered over there and insisted
me to continue. After appointing ‘panj pyaras’ (five beloved ones) among
them, the general secretary handed me back the keys and asked me to
continue as Jathedar of Sikh temporal seat.”
The general secretary has also posted an audio of his statement to
confirm that Iqbal Singh would continue his services as Takht Patna
Sahib jathedar.
In his resignation letter (the copy of which is with The Tribune), he
negated all the allegations while terming them as ‘politically
motivated’. He had written that he has served the Takht Sri Harminder Ji,
Patna Sahib, for the past 35 years and with the blessings of ‘Satguru’
he has been propagating Sikhism, yet some religious and political
section felt jealous of him and implicated him in false and frivolous
controversies to demean him.
Iqbal Singh said he had tried to submit his clarification numerous
times to prove his innocence but some elements were bent on humiliating
him. Keeping in view the sanctity of Takht Patna Sahib and without any
provocation and pressure, he has submitted his resignation.
Nonetheless, several complaints pertaining to his behavior and marital
status had been received from various Sikh organizations. Polygamous
Jathedar remained in news for his alleged misconduct on number of
occasions. He also invited criticism from the Sikh community for openly
attending the events organised by the RSS and observing the Gurpurbs in
contrary to the schedule set by the Akal Takht.
On February 3, his second wife Baljeet Kaur had approached Akal Takht
seeking action against him while levelling charges of cheating and
domestic violence. In a written complaint, she revealed that Iqbal Singh
had married her in 2003 on false pretext that his first wife had passed
away.
Recently, Iqbal Singh found himself in soup when a video went viral
in which his son Gurparsad Singh was seen puffing and drinking alcohol.
Though, later Giani Iqbal Singh claimed to disown him for violating the
Sikh ethics. Gurparsad, who was accountant at the Takht, was dismissed
from service by the board.
All these issues were to be discussed with the five high priests before
taking a final call on him.
While cautioning Iqbal Singh to stay away from participating in any
panthic activity, the Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh
had constituted a seven-member committee to probe the allegations
levelled against him.
It has been learnt that the committee has submitted its report to the
Akal Takht late evening. Harpreet Singh had stated that on the basis of
this report the five high priests will take a decision in the next
meeting.