Five Sikh high priests on Tuesday summoned 44 Sikh leaders, who had visited Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda for political gains, to the Akal Takht on April 17.
On the basis of report submitted by an SGPC panel, these leaders belonging to the SAD, Congress and AAP had violated the Akal Takht’s 2007 hukumnama which had excommunicated the Dera head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
SAD members Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu, Sikander Singh Maluka, Janmeja Singh Shekon, Dilraj Singh Bhunder, Parkash Singh Bhatti, Kawaljit Singh Roji Barkandi, Parrminder Singh Dhindsa, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Nishan Singh Budlada, Mantar Singh Brar, Inder Iqbal Singh Atwal, Ranjit Singh Talwandi, Gobind Singh Longowal and Manpreet Singh Ayali were asked to appear before the seat to give clarification.
From Congress, Arjan Singh, son of Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal; Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Kewal Singh Dhillon, Randip Singh Nabha, Darshan Singh Brar, Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Sadhu Singh Dharmsot, Karan Kaur Brar, Kushbaj Singh Jatana, Rajinder Singh Samana and Daman Kaur Bajwa.
AAP leader Narinder Singh Sandha has also been asked to appear before the Takht.
In another surprise development, Haryana SGPC chief Jagdish Singh Jhinda, who was excommunicated, volunteered to appear before the Akal Takht.
Jhinda submitted a written apology for not complying with the summons issued against him and his supporters in 2014 by the Akal Takht.
Today, five high priests pronounced him ‘tankha’ at the Akal Takht, before bringing him back to the community fold.
However, the other office-bearers who were also ex-communicated in 2014 didn’t come along.