AMRITSAR, March 9 -- The unceremonious removal of Giani Raghbir Singh as Akal Takht jathedar and Giani Sultan Singh as Takht Kesgarh Sahib head by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday has drawn sharp reactions from the various sections of the Sikh community.

This is not the first time that the SGPC has removed jathedars, whose positions are considered sacrosanct within the community, with many critics dubbing it as a direct attack on the supremacy and sacredness of Sikh temporal seats founded by the Gurus.

In the last two and half decades, during which Badal family dominated the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which further controls the SGPC due to its majority in its general house, six jathedars have been removed.

Bh...