AMRITSAR: The Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, has termed the legal action taken yesterday by the Punjab Government regarding the 328 sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the banned Hindi book published by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) as politically motivated and a direct interference in Sikh institutions.
Speaking to the media after today’s meeting of the Five Singhs Sahiban held at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Jathedar Gargajj said that according to the report submitted by the three-member inquiry commission headed by S. Ishar Singh and constituted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the SGPC has already taken appropriate action against the responsible officers and employees in the entire case of 328 sacred saroops. This action had been duly approved by the then Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, as well as by the Five Singhs Sahiban. At that time, the executive committees had also appeared before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and sought forgiveness. The SGPC had passed a resolution in its General House and sought forgiveness from the Khalsa Panth.
Jathedar Gargajj further said this case pertains to financial mismanagement, not sacrilege. He added that the personal involvement of Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan and the minister S. Harjot Singh Bains—who in the past had undergone tankhah (religious atonement) at Sri Akal Takht Sahib—clearly indicates that this action is driven by political motives.
He said the current Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has very limited understanding of Sikh traditions and practices, due to which it is now colliding with the action already accepted by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and is challenging its authority. He termed this a conspiracy to weaken the SGPC, which the Sikh community will never tolerate.