Iqbal Singh with Amarjit Chawla, Sukhbir Badal, Harnam Singh Dhumma, and representatives from SGPC and Nanaksar Dera

New Delhi (KP) – The controversy relating to Giani Iqbal Singh’s so-called 'hukamnama' took a new turn as the Patna Sahib Jathedar held meetings with several other controversial leaders and dera-dars to discuss possible way to implement his self-issued decree.   Interestingly, Jathedar Vedanti has declined to issue summons to Giani Iqbal Singh for issuing hukamnamas without consulting other Takhts.  In contrast, it has now become evident that Giani Iqbal Singh is still committed to surpassing the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and bringing changes to the mandates issued by the Takht.

Dhumma, non-Amritdhari Sukhbir Joins Forces with Iqbal Singh

In a joint press release Giani Iqbal Singh (Patna Sahib), Avtar Makkar (SGPC), Sukhbir Badal (SAD), Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma (Damdami Taksal), Baba Dharampal Singh (Nanaksar Samadh-Bhai), Baba Lakha Singh (Nanaksar Kalera), Amarjeet Singh Chawla (SSF), Paramjeet Singh Khalsa (SSF Mehta) held that the controversy relating to the Nanakshahi Calendar is ‘dangerous’ for the Panth and held that a new unified maryada will soon be drafted after taking all Panthic Jathebandis into consideration.
 
Although Giani Iqbal Singh was the only Takht Jathedar present at the meeting, he promised to hold meetings with Jathedar Vedanti and other Jathedars to discuss the matter in detail.  Giani Iqbal Singh held that all the attendees expressed their support with the proposed reforms.  According to Giani Iqbal Singh, a meeting has been organized to take place during next week.  Giani Iqbal Singh held that he had nothing against the Nanakshahi Calendar and agreed to accept it but only after resolving the fallacies.  Furthermore, if these inaccuracies are removed, the name of the calendar would stay as Nanakshahi Calendar.

New Precedence ?

Although a unified maryada would be an advantage to the Panth, whether or not any consensus can be reached on the Nanakshahi calendar, but such decisions have traditionally been made by consensus of the Takhts and the Panth, and not unilaterally.  Another question that arises after pondering the current situation is whether the controversy relates only to the Nanakshahi Calendar or to ratifying the entire maryada of Akal Takht Sahib as the press statement specifies.

Furthermore, most Sikhs realize that nothing could be more ‘dangerous’ than the inclusion of the likes of Sukhbir Badal in such meetings.  On one hand, the same leaders of organizations such as the Damdami Taksal and Sikh Student Federation want Jathedar Vedanti to summon officials of the Shiromani Alkali Dal for electing a non-amritdhari as the party president, and on the other, they are holding closed door meetings with Sukhbir Badal himself to decide the future of the Khalsa Panth.