Namdhari leader suggests Panch Pardhani for Sikh leadership

A Namdhari Sikh leader, Thakur Dalip Singh, has proposed a new way to appoint leaders within the Sikh community. He suggests bringing back the Panch Pardhani tradition, which includes five leaders, instead of relying on a single powerful Jathedar. This idea comes after recent controversies surrounding the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)'s decisions about Jathedars. Dalip Singh believes that the current Jathedars are not true leaders but are just employees of the SGPC. He noted that the tradition of having five respected individuals manage the community, as started by the Gurus, should be revitalized. He emphasized that decisions about the Sikh faith should be made collectively by a group, not by just one person. His comments follow a situation where the SGPC removed some Jathedars and appointed new ones, which led to backlash from the Sikh community worldwide. Singh pointed out that changes in leadership should be guided by traditions and that the Sikh code of conduct has evolved over time. He criticized the influence of outside systems that have led to the current paid positions for Jathedars. Singh argued that true Sikh leadership should be based on selfless service, maintaining the spirit of the community established by the Gurus.