The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today alleged that the police action being initiated in the issue of 328 saroops missing from the records of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) was orchestrated for political gains at the behest of the ruling Aam Admi Party (AAP).
SAD spokesperson Parambans Singh Romana today said that the AAP was bewildered by the SAD’s “remarkable” performance in the recently held Tarn Taran bypoll as well as zila parishad and block samiti elections.
“The SAD’s tough fight in the recently held polls has given an indication of bouncing back. This has upset the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led AAP,” he said.
He further added that the AAP government had intervened in the saroops case despite a clear directive from Akal Takht that this was an internal matter of the Sikh community and that no government agency should be allowed to interfere in it.
“The guilty persons were punished by the SGPC as per the report submitted by the panel constituted by the Akal Takht. Overlooking it, five years later, an FIR was lodged for which the Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and a cabinet minister specially reached Amritsar,” he said while criticising the dismissed ‘ragi’ Baldev Singh Wadala for indulging in politics on the issue at the instance of the AAP government.
Romana also objected to the credibility of the officials who had been handpicked to lead the SIT to investigate the case.
Meanwhile, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has appealed to cooperate in the investigation being conducted by the SIT.
He further appealed to the Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj that “not only cooperation be given to punish the culprits but also strict action be taken as per the Panthic rituals”.
AAP hurting Sikh sentiments: Chugh
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Wednesday alleged that the leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has repeatedly shown an alarming disregard for Sikh faith, traditions and religious dignity.
Chugh said statements made by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, along with videos regarding his conduct and remarks on sacred Sikh practices, had deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikhs.
He said Mann’s comments concerning the sacred Sikh Golak were extremely unfortunate and reflected AAP’s insensitivity towards Sikh beliefs and long-established religious traditions.
He said while these developments were unfolding in Punjab, an incident in the Delhi Assembly further exposed AAP’s mindset. He alleged that the conduct of Atishi in the Assembly amounted to a grave insult to Sikh Gurus and crossed all moral and constitutional limits. He demanded an unconditional apology to the Sikh community.