Addressing a press conference here, DGMC general secretary, Bhajan Singh Walia, Delhi State Akali Dal leaders, Paramjit Singh Sarna and Avtar Singh Autopind and SGPC member, Harinderpal Singh, said for Sikhs challenging the ``hukamnama'' issued by Akal Takhat, the supreme temporal seat, was against the basic tenets and convention of the religion and ``no body has the right to question its sovereignty.''

``Sikhs living outside Punjab strongly condemn attempts to undermine the authority of Akal Takht for political ends,'' they said. Referring to an appeal by 131 SGPC members, urging Akal Takht chief Bhai Ranjit Singh to withdraw his hukamnama, they said the appeal wasnot in consonance with the Sikh traditions and conventions as it contained an ``element of threat and coercion''.

They said the Akalis had been fighting all along against Central government for its ``interference'' into the internal affairs of the Sikh community and alleged that the party under Badal's leadership was also ``rendering itself to the same charges by interfering into SGPC affairs.''

They also demanded that the tri-centenary celebrations of Khalsa Panth should be organised under the aegis of the Akal Takht and not under the chairmanship of chief minister and Akali Dal president. Claiming that the majority of DGMC and State Akali Dal members were with them, they demanded immediate withdrawal of the appeal by the SGPC members and asked them to work for Sikh unity.