The open mudslinging on several issues has left the community alarmed and divided the jathedars vertically. ``Certain forces seem to have conspired to harm the highest institutions of the Sikhs,'' says Dr Gurbhagat Singh, a senior professor of Punjabi University, Patiala. ``The damage could be unprecedented.''

It all started a few weeks ago when Professor Manjit Singh, Jathedar of Takht Keshgarh Sahib at Anandpur Sahib, the birthplace of the Khalsa, went to the Press protesting against the behaviour of Bhai Ranjit Singh, the Jathedar of Akal Takht. Accusing the latter of playing politics and using foul language, Manjit Singh declared that he along with Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib in Bathinda district, would not attend meetings of the clergy till Ranjit Singh``mended his ways''.

Ranjit Singh replied to the charge by alleging that Manjit Singh had embezzled donation funds of the World Sikh Council during his tenure as its president. Manjit Singh had been later replaced with Justice Kuldip Singh a retired Supreme Court judge after an amendment in the by-laws. The amendment itself is now the subject matter of a litigation. Interestingly, Ranjit Singh was in jail for the murder of Nirankari sect chief Gurbachan Singh when he was appointed the Akal Takht Jathedar in 1990. Till the time he was released in October 1996 (he was given a 14-year sentence but it was commuted by a few months and he was let off on bail), Manjit Singh served as the acting Jathedar in his place. The latter even oversaw the process of Ranjit Singh taking over as Jathedar in December 1996, two months after his release.

But now, swords are out between the two. Ranjit Singh has declared that Manjit Singh and Giani Kewal Singh would not be allowed to attend meetings at the Akal Takht tillaccounts of the World Sikh Council are submitted. The accounts are with Jaswant Singh Mann, who was the council general secretary when Manjit Singh was its president.

Shamsher Singh -- the brother of Beant Singh who assassinated Indira Gandhi was a member of the council and had gone to court challenging the validity of Kuldip Singh's appointment. Mann has reportedly agreed to submit the accounts, which are now being audited, and Manjit Singh insists he has nothing to hide.

The quarrel then moved on to the different trusts formed by Manjit Singh for theological, educational and community purposes when he was the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht. Ranjit Singh alleges that Manjit Singh misused his position and diverted donations to trusts that he had formed with his family members on the executives.

Recently, there were charges against Ranjit Singh of amassing wealth. As the upholders of the collective moral authority of the Sikhs, the Jathedars of the five temporal seats are supposed to practise as wellas preach austerity. Ranjit Singh, however, was accused of hiding his identity to buy some land.

The Jathedar insists he did not try to hide his identity and that the land was bought by him with money given by friends. However, he hasn't specified whether the money was meant for his personal use or was a donation. Ranjit Singh also alleges that Manjit Singh, besides a Jalandhar-based editor and a state ``agency'', were behind the move to ``defame'' him.

However, it is a hukamnama issued by the clergy -- with Ranjit Singh presiding that has blown up the dispute, spreading it down the rank and file of the Sikhs, even across India's shores. The edict banned the serving of community meals (langars) in gurdwaras on tables and chairs, and restored the original maryada (tradition) of sitting on the floor and eating.

Several Sikh leaders abroad were excommunicated for not removing tables and chairs from the gurdwaras on the initiative of Ranjit Singh. Manjit Singh was a party to the edictbut has reservations about the excommunications, the central issue in the conflict. He protested against the move to excommunicate Sant Mohinder Singh of England on the complaint that he had not removed tables and chairs from the gurdwara.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Gurcharan Singh Tohra backs Ranjit Singh on this, saying: ``Bhai Ranjit Singh has only implemented the hukamnama issued by the Guru on langars.''

A section of the Sikh scholars favours convening of a representative Sikh gathering, the Sarbat Khalsa, to discuss the dispute on langars and to take remedial measures. But there is no consensus on this line of thinking.

The issue has led to violence and even some deaths in Canada, and worse is being apprehended by the liberals among the Sikhs. They allege the radicals, who had been alienated, are now back in business and this might have an impact on the peace in Punjab.

Though Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has stayed largely away from the dispute,his supporters feel even his government might start feeling the heat if the radicals gain an upper hand or if the controversy carries on. Though he and Tohra are on the same side of the fence in Akali Dal politics, they have perceptible differences of opinion on issues like the People's Commission, the BJP's attitude towards Punjab and the plans to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Khalsa in April next.

Tohra, whose role is the most crucial in such a situation, is playing his cards close to his chest. The SGPC chief has even advised the Press against discussing affairs involving the Sikh clergy.