Amritsar, Punjab (September 17, 2013): It is learnt that the “Panj Singh Sahib” held Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Navtej Singh Kauni guilty of violating a 2007 directive of the Akal Takht and directed him to undergo 18-day ‘tankha’.
SGPC member Navtej Singh Kauni’s guilt related to his attending a Dera Sacha Sauda congregation at Bhullar village in Muktsar district on May 16 during campaigning for the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidates for the zila parishad and block samiti polls. He is SGPC member from Doda in Muktsar.
It is notable that this was the second occasion that Navtej Singh Kauni had attended a dera congregation. The first one was in December 2011, just ahead of the assembly elections in January 2012, but he had got away at that time.
The 2007 directive prohibits all Sikhs from maintaining links with the Sirsa dera as its leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is indulged in anti-Sikh activities.
The Jathedars of five Sikh Takhts, who had held at meeting at Akal Takht Sahib on September 16, took the decision after hearing Navtej Singh Kauni’s side of the story.
As part of the ‘tankha’, Navtej Singh Kauni will perform ‘sewa’ at the ‘langar’ and ‘jora ghar’ at gurdwara Shri Darbar Sahib in Muktsar for 18 days. He will also hear ‘gurbani’ for an hour and also offer prayers at Sri Darbar Sahib Mukatsar.
After completion of the 18-day period, he will make an offering of `21,000 in the ‘golak’ of the shrine. Thereafter he will again present himself before the Akal Takht for atonement.