SGPC removes Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar

SGPC Executive today removed Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Balwant Singh Nandgarh for allegedly violating religious principles and disobeying certain decisions of the apex religious body of the Sikhs.
The meeting of the Executive, held today at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib, was presided over by SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar.
SGPC Executive members Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Karnail Singh Panjoli were not present in the meeting.
After the meeting, Makkar informed the mediapersons about the removal of Nandgarh.
He said Giani Nandgarh was removed from his post "for violation of Sikh maryada (code of conducts of Sikh religion) and disobeying certain decisions of SGPC."

Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), Amritsar Head Granthi, Giani Gurmukh Singh has been given the additional charge of the post till appointment of a permanent Jathedar.

In a recently held meeting of SGPC at Chandigarh, 150 SGPC members demanded from Makkar to immediately remove Nandgarh, head of one of the five Takhts (seat of temporal authority of Sikhism), who is opposing 'Bikrami calendar' and supporting original 'Nanakshahi calendar.'
When the SGPC executive meeting was in progress today, activists of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) assembled at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib and started to raise slogans against removal of Giani Nandgarh.
Later, SAD (Amritsar) President and former MP, Simranjit Singh Mann also joined their protest.

When Mann tried to enter the premises where the meeting was being held, he along with former MP Dyan Singh Mand, senior SAD (Amritsar) leaders Jaskaran Singh, Prof Mohinder Pal Singh were not allowed to enter by the police.
When a message was passed to Makkar about Mann's arrival, Makkar met him and accepted the memorandum submitted by him against Giani Nandgarh's removal.