AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has termed Punjab Aam Aadmi Party government for interfering in Sikh institutions, citing registration of FIR in the case of 328 sacred Birs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
Participating in a dharna by Sikh organisations, Dhami said that registration of FIR in this old case was completely politically motivated. He said that the Punjab government should stop dreaming that they will run Sikh institutions as per their whim.
He said that national institutions belong only to the nation and no attempt of government interference in them will be allowed to succeed. He clearly said that the Sikh community knows how to protect the dignity and traditions of its religious institutions, which the government should understand well.
He said that the matter of 328 sacred forms of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was investigated by Sri Akal Takht Sahib itself and departmental action has been taken as per the report and recommendations of the investigation. It has been made clear in the report of Sri Akal Takht Sahib that the matter of 328 sacred forms is not about sacrilege but about the misappropriation of money by some employees.
He said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib is supreme within the community and if all the action has been completed as per the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, then who is the government to do politics on it.
Advocate Dhami also described the weight being given to the issue of the book published in 1999 as a political move. He said that after objections, the then management of the Shiromani Committee had banned the book which was translated into English and published it and had also placed advertisements in newspapers to withdraw it. Apart from this, an apology was also sought for the mistake during the session in the past. Now there is no point in raising it again and again.
The SGPC President also appealed to the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take note of the government's interference in the issues which have been considered by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and action has been taken, so that the respect for the traditions of the Panth is maintained.