Amritsar, Aug 10: The Akal Takht-appointed panel on Saturday shifted the venue for the August 11 delegate meeting of the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) breakaway faction to Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh in Amritsar after being denied permission to install Guru Granth Sahib at the original location, Bhai Gurdas Hall near the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple.)
The session is expected to elect a parallel president for the party. Panel members said they were “surprised” when the Darbar Sahib management informed them that the ceremonial installation of Guru Granth Sahib would not be allowed during the political gathering.
“It is unimaginable and inconceivable that a General Session could be held without the presence of Guru Granth Sahib,” panel member Bibi Satwant Kaur said.
Golden Temple manager Bhagwant Singh Dhangeda defended the decision, stating, “Keeping religious traditions in mind, Darbar Sahib considers it inappropriate to perform the ceremonial installation of Guru Granth Sahib at political events.”
Earlier, the panel had also expressed anger over being refused permission to hold the meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, the headquarters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
