“It was a congregation of yes men. The SGPC invited the persons who hardly speak against them and the so-called convention was a formality sans healthy discussions,” said Dal Khalsa General Secretary Kunwarpal Singh.

He said neither they nor Khalsa Action Committee (KAC), who were critical of the SGPC on the debacle of filing a “wrong affidavit” earlier before the HC, were invited for the meet. “No responsibility of the officials has been fixed for the erroneous affidavit so far,” said KAC convener Mohkam Singh.

On the other hand, SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar, who presided over the meeting, said they had sent the invitations to various Sikh bodies and most of them attended the meet. “The SGPC is a paramount Sikh body, directly elected by the Sikh people. The participants who are prominent Sikh personalities unanimously endorsed our stand on filing a fresh affidavit on the Sehajdhari Sikh issue, as per the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925,” he said.

He added that they discussed the matter at length and would move ahead to approach the court.

The Samaj leaders, including Baba Avtar Singh, Baba Hari Singh, Damdami Taksal head Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of one faction of the Akhand Kirtani Jatha Baldev Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Tarlochan Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Balwant Singh Nandgarh, Chief Khalsa Diwan head Charanjit Singh Chadha and AISSF chief Rajinder Singh Mehta took part in the meet.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh is abroad. “Makkar is a misfit for the post of SGPC head. During his term, there have been numerous controversies and the Sehajdhari debacle is the latest. When the SGPC had already decided to file a fresh affidavit on the issue, rejecting the previous one, why are these formalities being done,” questioned former minister and former SGPC secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta, who is a vocal voice on the issue.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee head Paramjit Singh Sarna told The Indian Express from Delhi that neither the SGPC nor anyone is entitled to discuss the word “Sikh” as it had been defined by Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh. “It is a mockery of religious affairs,” said Sarna, adding that the previous affidavit was altered as per the dictates of RSS and Makkar and CM Parkash Singh Badal will have to provide an answer to the Sikh public.

Meanwhile, when asked about the three-member panel not even beginning work on the probe to affix responsibility for submission of “wrong affidavit” earlier, Makkar said the panel was on the job and would soon submit a detailed report.