Chandigarh, March 10 -- In the midst of the continued crisis in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over the ouster of jathedars, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday officially assumed office as the jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib in Punjab's Rupnagar district. The function was held in the presence of the 'Panj Piaras' of the Takht, with top Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials present.

The SGPC had nominated Gargaj as the new jathedar on March 7, after the ousting of Giani Raghbir Singh from the Akal Takht jathedar post and Giani Sultan Singh from the post of jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib. He has also been entrusted with the additional charge as the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest tempor...