Akal Takht holds Sarna brothers guilty, announces punishment

Holding former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Paramjit Singh Sarna and his brother Manjit guilty of obstructing the construction of a memorial in Delhi, the Akal Takht Friday directed them to withdraw their case from court and do religious penance.

The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion.

The Sarna brothers were summoned by the Akal Takht, and they appeared before the five Sikh clergymen (high priests). They were directed to withdraw the case filed by them in the Delhi High Court against the construction of a memorial to the Sikhs who were killed in 1984 at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib in the national capital, during the anti-Sikh riots that followed the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Sarna had sought a stay on the construction of the memorial.

Akal Takht chief (Jathedar) Gurbachan Singh read out the decision of the high priests to the Sarna brothers.

They were also directed to do voluntary service (sewa) at Gurdwara Rakabganj, organise prayers and a langar (community kitchen).

The Sarna brothers had filed their reply before the Akal Takht after they were summoned here.

The Sarnas, who are considered close to the Congress party, were ousted from the DSGMC in its elections held earlier this year.