Giani Gargaj Hurriedly Appointed 'Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib'

Early on 10 Mar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) hurriedly appointed forty-year-old Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as Jathedar (leader) of Takht Kesgarh Sahib. The ceremony was conducted with Panj Piare Sahiban (Five Loved Ones), SGPC secretary Pratap Singh, and with Takht (throne) management staff in attendance. The SGPC advanced the ceremony at Anandpur Sahib to avoid clashes with Nihangs (traditional Sikh warrior) groups and the Damdami Taksal (Sikh seminary) who had planned to disrupt the ceremony. Budha Dal (a warrior group) leader Baba Balbir Singh publicly called for blocking the appointment. Damdami Taksal spokesperson Gurdeep Singh Naulkha also opposed Gargaj’s appointment. Giani Harpreet Singh, former Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar, and Giani Raghbir Singh former Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT) Jathedar criticized the process of Giani Gargaj’s appointment for violating the code of conduct. In his inaugural address, Giani Gargaj, who is also now the acting Jathedar (leader) of the AT as well, said, ‘The Sikh community is in peril, drugs have eroded the society; the fear of demographic shift in Panjab is real and if not checked the community would be reduced to a minority in their homeland.’ He said the reason was the Panth (Sikh Collective) has moved away from religion, we should take direction from the Guru Granth Sahib (the Sikh Scripture). He lamented the growing disunity among Sikhs and called for unity. He asserted that the 2 Dec 2024 edicts remain intact, rejecting speculation of any rollback, adding that he would look into grievances regarding the AT appointed seven-member committee to oversee SAD’s reorganization. Giani Gargaj has served in the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee during the presidency of Paramjit Singh Sarna who is considered close to Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal.