Calling 'sarbat khalsa' is sole prerogative of Akal Takht jathedar, says SGPC

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said on Friday that the convening of a “sarbat khalsa” congregation is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht chief, after fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh sought such a meet to discuss issues concerning the Sikh community.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said on Friday that the convening of a "sarbat khalsa" congregation is the sole prerogative of the Akal Takht chief, after fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh sought such a meet to discuss issues concerning the Sikh community.

In his two video messages that surfaced on social media on Wednesday and Thursday, Amritpal Singh has asked the jathedar (chief) of the Akal Takht, the supreme temporal body of Sikhs, to call "sarbat khalsa" -- a congregation of the faithful.

He also appealed to the jathedar to take out a "khalsa vaheer" (religious procession) from the Akal Takht in Amritsar to the Damdama Sahib in Bathinda and hold the congregation there on Baisakhi day.

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Responding to the demands, SGPC general secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal told PTI, "It is personal wish of Amritpal Singh.... To call or not to call 'sarbat khalsa' is the sole prerogative of Akal Takht jathedar and no one else."

Since the jathedar is leading the Sikh community, he takes each decision with deep thought followed by the opinions of Sikh scholars and intellectuals, Mr. Grewal said.

"The jathedar would see what needs to be done in the light of prevailing circumstances.... There is no doubt that many Sikhs who are close to Amritpal Singh were arrested under the National Security Act which is also a matter of grave concern," he said.