Prof Darshan Singh says no to tankha
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
Kanchan Vasdev
Tribune News Service
The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Punjab
Ludhiana, December 6
Former Akal Takht Jathedar Prof Darshan Singh said today that he would not undergo tankha even if he was excommunicated by the Sikh high priests.
He was declared tankhaiya by the high priests yesterday after he was held guilty in a case pertaining to his alleged blasphemous remarks against Guru Gobind Singh during his discourse at a Rochester (US) gurdwara.
Stating that the religious edict was passed against him without listening to his side of story, Prof Darshan Singh said he had not said anything against the 10th guru and he was his true Sikh.
He said he appeared before Akal Takht yesterday but the clergy wanted him to appear in the Sikh secretariat.
“When Akal Takht is a supreme authority then why should I go to a room and give my point of view? I will never give any value to a room when I believe in the supremacy of Akal Takht. I was there yesterday but they did not turn up there,” he said.
Stating that he valued the tenets of the Sikhism and could never insult the 10th guru, Prof Darshan Singh said he was against some chapters in Dasam Granth, which was being promoted as the second guru after Guru Granth Sahib.
“I have always stated that Dasam Granth was a bigger version of Bachhittar Natak that was always hated by the Sikhs. Now, people do not have time to read Dasam Granth and the clergy is trying that itgets acceptance among the people.
“I will never let this happen and I will never cease to be a Sikh,” he said.
The former Jathedar also said he would appear before Akal Takht on January 7. “But that does not mean they can keep on summoning me again and again. I will go there but not in the secretariat. Whatever decision they take, it is their will,” he added.
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