Sikh row hots up

Bibi Jagir Kaur was the first woman head of the SGPC

By Asit Jolly in Chandigarh

A dispute between rival Sikh factions controlling top religious and secular institutions has intensified in the north Indian state of Punjab.

Giani Puran Singh, the head priest of the Akal Takht - Sikhism's highest religious seat - has directed Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal to immediately replace Bibi Jagir Kaur, the excommunicated president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).

Ms Kaur was the first woman to head the SGPC, a powerful body which controls the affairs of all historic Sikh shrines and institutions in north India.

Mr Singh has sought similar action against three Sikh high priests who he excommunicated from the community last Sunday, for not adhering to his earlier edict excommunicating Ms Kaur.

The Akal Takht is Sikhism's highest religious seat

Mr Badal's Shiromani Akali Dal party is in a majority in the SGPC, and the head priest believes that as party president, he must act against all those who, according to him, have challenged the authority of the Akal Takht.

Political crisis

The excommunicated high priests have attempted to retaliate by formally declaring their refusal to accept Giani Puran Singh's edicts.

Analysts say the direct involvement of politicians in what, until now, was a feud restricted to Sikh religious leaders could result in further crises.

According to them, the chief minister - himself a Sikh - cannot ignore the writ of the Akal Takht for long.

But any direct intervention is certain to divide both the political leadership and the Sikh community in Punjab.

Observers also say that rival Sikh politicians are likely to view the chief minister's involvement in religious affairs as 'meddling'.

And non-Sikhs, who represent more than 40% of Punjab's population, are certain to view in this, a dilution in Mr Badal's secular credentials.