The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said on Friday that it is only the prerogative of the Akal Takht chief to call a meeting of the "Sarbat Khalsa".

Fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh has asked to convene a meeting of "Sarbat Khalsa" to discuss issues related to the Sikh community.

In his two video messages that surfaced on social media on Wednesday and Thursday, Amritpal Singh has asked the Jathedar (head) of the Akal Takht, the apex religious body of Sikhs, to organize a gathering of devotees called "Sarbat Khalsa".

Amritpal also appealed to the Jathedar to take out a "Khalsa Waheer" (religious procession) from Akal Takht in Amritsar to Damdama Sahib in Bathinda and hold a meeting there on Baisakhi.

Responding to the demands, SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal told PTI, "It is Amritpal Singh's personal wish.

Calling or not calling the Sarbat Khalsa is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht and not anyone else.

Grewal said that since the Jathedar leads the Sikh community, he takes every decision with deep thought and takes the opinion of Sikh scholars and intellectuals.

He said, “The Jathedar will see what needs to be done in view of the prevailing circumstances.

There is no doubt that several Sikhs close to Amritpal Singh were arrested under the National Security Act, which is a matter of grave concern.

Jathedar Harpreet Singh had earlier given an 'ultimatum' to the Punjab government to release the Sikh youths arrested during the crackdown against Amritpal Singh and his 'Waris Punjab De' organization that began on March 18.

The Punjab government had informed the Akal Takht that out of all 360 people taken into preventive custody during the operation, 348 have now been released.


Grewal said, “Recently on March 27, a gathering of 100 Sikh organizations was held at the Akal Takht on the call of the Jathedar.

The only agenda of the meeting was to discuss the situation created after the police action.

After an intense meeting, the Jathedar came to a logical conclusion and gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the Punjab government to release the Sikh youths arrested during the police action.

Radical preacher and Khalistan supporter Amritpal Singh is absconding since March 18.

Last month, Amritpal and his supporters had stormed the Ajnala police station to demand the release of one of the arrested accused.

Six police personnel were injured in the violence.

On the request made by Amritpal Singh to the Jathedar to organize "Sarbat Khalsa", Sikh scholar Baljinder Singh said, "It cannot be called at the will of an individual." However, he added that if the Jathedar If he wants to organize "Sarbat Khalsa", he will have to do so after several meetings with Sikh scholars and intellectuals and see whether it is needed or not.

"The current Jathedar is officiating Jathedar as he has been appointed by the SGPC," he said.

It is noteworthy that the last 'Sarbat Khalsa' was organized on 16 February 1986 when Giani Kirpal Singh was the Jathedar of Akal Takht.

Before that, the executive committee of SGPC raised its demand in its meeting on 28 January 1986.


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