Joginder Singh declared tankhaiya by Singh Sahibs, Sri Akal Takht

Friday June 9, 03:54 AM

Spokesman editor records statement in court

• I published nothing objectionable against Sikhism ... Vedanti has personal grudge against me Joginder Singh Chief Editor, Spokesman

JOGINDER Singh, chief editor of Spokesman, today recorded his statements in the ongoing case registered against Akal Takht Jathedar. Joginder maintained that the Jathedar had no right to excommunicate him from the Sikh Panth and that his excommunication was entirely illegal.

• He further maintained that he had not published anything objectionable against Sikhism. The statements were recorded today in the Court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Balwinder Singh.

• The case dates back to March 2003, when after publication of an article by Joginder Singh, he was excommunicated from the AKal Takht and was accused of violating the directions of Akal Takht and indulging in blasphemous activities. e is the first editor who to face such an extreme religious punishment. A decision to this effect was pronounced from the rostrum of Akal Takht by Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti after meeting of Sikh priests held in the Takht's secretariat.

• The directive of Akal Takht appealed to Sikhs all over the world to severe all kinds of relations with Joginder Singh and boycott his magazine 'Spokesman' published from Chandigarh.

• Joginder Singh was also accused of supporting Gurbax Singh Kalaafghana, a Canada-based excommunicated Sikh. Aggrieved by this, Joginder Singh moved the Court against Vedanti alleging that he had no right of excommunicating him from the Akal Takht.

• Speaking to Newsline, Joginder Singh said, Vedanti did all this as he was nursing a personal grudge with me.

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