Bibi shown the door, Talwandi is new SGPC chief

Bibi shown the door, Talwandi is new SGPC chief
DHARMENDRA RATAUL

AMRITSAR, NOVEMBER 30: Bibi Jagir Kaur, the first woman president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), a key religious body of Sikhs, was today replaced by Jagdev Singh Talwandi as SGPC chief ending a controversial term that was capped by a CBI chargesheet against her accusing her of murdering daughter, Harpreet. Talwandi, a veteran Akali Dal leader, was unanimously elected the president at the General House meeting held at Teja Singh Samundar Hall here on Thursday.

The SGPC chief's election in fact brought about a rare unity amongst warring Sikh groups with three major ``panthic'' leaders, Chief Minister Badal and arch rival Tohra and Simranjit Singh Mann converging on Talwandi's name.

When Talwandi's name was proposed, Tohra went up to him and congratulated which, however, left many eyebrows straightened in the Badal camp.

Later, addressing the media, Talwandi said the most important issue before the Panth today was the deviation (Patitpuna) of the younger generation from the Panthic traditions and value system. SGPC being a guiding force for the community must work for bringing the new generation to the fold of the rich Panthic culture, he said.

He, however, refused to comment on the controversy surrounding Bibi Jagir Kaur saying it was her personal matter.

Mann said as a criminal case was filed against Kaur she should have resigned earlier and added ``her case had brought disgrace to the religious body and the new president should work for restoring the lost glory''.

Kaur became the first woman president of the SGPC when she was elected in March last year following a split in Akali Dal that also saw the easing out of Tohra, who had held the post for a record 26 years.