AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Sikh organizations helping organize the Sarbat Khalsa have started preparations to host the Sikh Sangat at Gurdwara Baba Nodh Singh on November 10. Simranjit Singh Mann and other members of the Shiromani Akali Dal (A) today inaugurated an office to help facilitate the preparations. The office has been opened in East Mohan Nagar on Chamrang Road.
Simranjit Singh Mann said that the strategies to tackle the problems facing the Sikhs and to establish a sovereign Sikh State would be discussed at the Sarbat Khalsa.
United Akali Dal President Bhai Mohkam Singh said that volunteers are working to convince the Sikh bodies which are tight-lipped about Sarbat Khalsa. He said that Sarbat Khalsa is not a political gathering, instead it is a congregation to discuss the Sikh problems.
Due to the Shiromani Akali Dal (A) and United Akali Dal playing the leading role in organizing Sarbat Khalsa, some Sikh bodies have raised concern over one political faction running the operations of Sarbat Khalsa.
Background
Following the pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim of Sacha Sauda cult by the appointed Jathedars, Shiromani Akali Dal (A) and United Akali Dal collectively gave a call for Sarbat Khalsa on Bandi Chor Divas/Diwali. Sikh organizations claimed that Akali Dal (Badal) had taken over control over Sikh institutions and was using those to its own benefit. Following the lack of action in the Bargadi sacrilege case, it was resolved by Sikh organizations that the Jathedars must be sacked by the Panth so that control of one political lineage (Akali Dal Badal) could be removed from Sikh institutions.