Former students’ group seeks Akal Takht action against Damdami Taksal chief

Amritsar: Former students of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, under the banner of Damdami Taksal International, approached the officiating Jathedar of the Akal Takht, seeking religious action against the chief of Taksal for allegedly violating an edict issued by the Akal Takht. The controversial Sikh religious leader Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwala was the 14th chief of Taksal.Sikh Youth Federation Bhindranwale president Ranjit Singh, a former student of Taksal and who is linked to Damdami Taksal International, said they appealed to Giani Gargaj to take note of the alleged violation by Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma.The alleged incident occurred during a function held recently in Nagpur, where Dhumma reportedly sat on a bench with his legs extended downwards instead of sitting cross-legged.The function was organised to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, during which Sri Guru Granth Sahib was in parkash at the venue. "This is a grave violation of the hukamnama of the Akal Takht issued on Nov 22, 2013, which directs that benches be installed in the veranda outside the parkash area of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. This directive was issued after the sangat misinterpreted or misused an earlier hukamnama dated July 8, 2009, concerning the use of chairs and seating arrangements during the parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib," said Ranjit Singh.The Taksal students accused Dhumma of setting a wrong precedent in the implementation of panthic maryada (the Sikh code of religious conduct). "We urged the officiating jathedar to take religious action against the Taksal chief, as the issue severely hurt the religious sentiments of Sikhs," Ranjit Singh added.