Akal Takht Officiating Jathedar Faces Protest During Siropa Presentation Ceremony
Akal Takht's officiating Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, faced an awkward moment today during a ceremony held within the Akal Takht premises, in the presence of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials. A Sikh activist interrupted the proceedings, openly objecting to Gargaj's authority and preventing him from presenting a siropa (robe of honour).
The event was organised by the SGPC-backed Akhand Kirtani Jatha at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbax Singh Jee, situated just behind the Akal Takht. It marked the conclusion of an Akhand Path held in remembrance of Bhai Mehal Singh Babbar, the general secretary of the Babbar Khalsa outfit, who recently passed away at Sri Nankana Sahib in Pakistan.
Following the completion of the religious ceremonies, SGPC secretary Partap Singh handed a siropa to Giani Gargaj to present to Babbar’s family. However, activist Jarnail Singh Sakhira intervened, saying, “Jathedar Saheb, eh na karo… Tuhanu quom Jathedar nahin mandi” (Jathedar Saheb, don’t do this—the community does not accept you as Jathedar). Giani Gargaj responded respectfully, stepping back with folded hands. The situation was calmed when Golden Temple granthi Giani Baljit Singh was instead asked to present the siropa.
Justifying his protest, Sakhira asserted that the Sikh community only recognized Jagtar Singh Hawara—currently serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh—as the rightful Jathedar of the Akal Takht. In Hawara’s absence, Dhyan Singh Mand is considered the acting Jathedar. Both individuals were appointed during the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa, a large assembly of Sikhs held in Chabba village, which challenged the authority of then Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh following the controversial pardon of the Dera Sacha Sauda head.
Sakhira, a key organiser of the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa, said that Jathedars appointed by the SGPC under the influence of the Badal family were not accepted by the Panth (the Sikh community). “How can Giani Gargaj present a siropa when we never acknowledged his appointment? When I raised my objection, he respected it,” Sakhira said.
He further criticized the SGPC for lacking a clear and transparent process (vidhi vidhan) in appointing Jathedars, accusing the body of functioning as a political tool of the Shiromani Akali Dal. “Only those who align with their views are appointed. Dissenters are dismissed in disgrace, as we’ve seen recently,” he added.
When asked whether his objection was linked to the SGPC’s recent removal of Giani Raghbir Singh and two other Jathedars—Giani Sultan Singh of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Giani Harpreet Singh of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib—Sakhira clarified that his opposition went beyond individual appointments. “We reject all Jathedars appointed by the SGPC. We are not aligned with Damdami Taksal or any other body protesting the latest changes. Our position is independent,” he emphasized.
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