The British government always supported the Mahants, the priests of the Gurudwaras. The Sikhs did not like it. These priests had entered the Gurudwaras as Sewadars but during the British rule, they began to consider themselves as the owners of the Gurudwaras. They considered the property of Gurudwaras as their personal property. Patronage of the British was available to the Mahants or priests. So they thought that their hold on the Gurudwaras was safe. They started living a luxurious life. The Sikhs could not tolerate it.
