SGPC rejects 'Sarbat Khalsa' decisions

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, today rejected all the decisions announced at November 10 congregation called by Sikh hardliners, which included removal of three head priests.
The Executive Committee of the SGPC today unanimously rejected all the decisions taken by 'Sarbat Khalsa'. The meeting was chaired by senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk.
The meeting slammed the "appointment" of new takht jathedars and other decisions announced at the conclave as a "deep rooted conspiracy" to create confusion among the Sikhs.
Virk said that the November 10 conclave was organised to damage the Akal Takht and the SGPC. This conclave appointed new jathedars in violation of the Panthic traditions and without consensus, he said.

A ruckus was created in Golden Temple Complex on Diwali to disrupt the traditional address by Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, he said.
Sikh hardliners had convened 'Sarbat Khalsa' on the outskirts of Amritsar on November 10 and announced removal of top Sikh priests including the Akal Takht chief.
The hardliners alleged that SGPC, which appoints Sikh head priests, was being controlled by the ruling Badal family.
They also gave a call for a march to the Golden Temple next day. However, the police stopped them and later arrested several leaders of the Sikh radical groups.