Joginder Singh declared tankhaiya by Singh Sahibs, Sri Akal Takht

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Friday June 9, (2006?) 03:54 AM

Court statement

In his ongoing case he had registered against the Akal Takht's Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti, Joginder Singh (chief editor of Spokesman magazine) made his statements in the Court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Balwinder Singh.

Joginder Singh maintained that the Jathedar had no right to excommunicate him from the Sikh Panth and that his excommunication was entirely illegal.

Some excerpts from his statement:

  • I published nothing objectionable against Sikhism… Vedanti has a personal grudge against me.

The case dates back to March 2003, when after publication of an article by Joginder Singh, he was declared Tankhaiya (excommunicated) by by Singh Sahibs from the Akal Takht and was accused of violating the directions of Akal Takht and indulging in blasphemous activities. He 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 the Akal Takht appealed to Sikhs all over the world to lapse all their relationships with Joginder Singh and boycott his magazine the Spokesman; published from Chandigarh.

Joginder Singh was also accused of supporting Gurbax Singh Kala Afghana, 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.

From the Panthic Weekly, Sunday 4th of December 2005

Amritsar Sahib (KP) - Akal Takhat Sahib Jathedar, Gyani Joginder Singh Vedanti has appealed to the Sikh Sangat to boycott the Chandigarh Spokesman, a newspaper which has begun now to be published daily. The newspaper which became operational recently on daily basis was launched by another man named Joginder Singh (Spokesman), who was excommunicated from the Khalsa Panth for his anti-Panthic activities and association with Gurbaksh Kala Afghana, a Canada based excommunicated Sikh.

Gyani Joginder Singh Vedanti asserted that the Chandigarh Spokesman was habitually publishing stories which were damaging to the Panth. Joginder Singh, editor of Spokesman, was asked to appear at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib for taking part in propagating views which were divergent from Sikh principals, history and way of life, on January 7, 2004, to explain his stance on this issue. Gyani Joginder Singh Vedanti stated that, instead of appearing at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib as a modest Sikh, Joginder Singh of Spokesman instead wrote to the Akal Takhat Sahib, challenging its authority. The letter was said to be composed with derogatory language to defy Sri Akal Takhat Sahib's status and was also sent for publication in many newspapers by the Spokesman editor.

Joginder Singh of Spokesman was later declared tankhaiya by Singh Sahibs of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib for his religious misconduct. He was once again asked to appear at Sri Akal Takhat Sahib on March 10, 2004, but he refused and threatened to file law suit in the court against Sri Akal Takhat Sahib Jathedar. Keeping the behavior of Joginder Singh (Spokesman) in mind, he was excommunicated from the Panth and all Sikhs were asked to lapse all their relationships with this person.

In relation with the publication of the new Spokesman newspaper, the Akal Takhat Sahib Jathedar has asked all Sikhs to refrain from reading or prescribing to this daily newspaper. To upkeep the status and dignity of Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, no Sikh should offer any kind of help, financial or other sorts, to this newspaper, or work for it in any way.

Reliable sources have also informed the Panthic Weekly that in Punjab, Panthic organizations like the Shahbaaz Khalsa and GURSIKH, with the support of Jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh Ji, have threatened to launch a massive campaign to boycott products and services from companies who advertise in the daily edition of the Chandigarh Spokesmen. Panthic Weekly will provide more information as it becomes available.