In a necessary shift in stance, Akal Takht appearing Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Monday directed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to cooperate with the Punjab government regarding the case of 328 lacking sacred saroops (scriptures) of Guru Granth Sahib.
The directive comes days after the Sikh clergy had in the starting up termed government interference in the subject as “no longer in the Panth’s passion”. The jathedar has now authorised SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to manufacture required files to investigators at its Chandigarh sub-situation of business.
The case pertains to the misappropriation of sacred saroops from the SGPC’s publishing dwelling. An inner inquiry by the Ishar Singh Price beforehand realized that 16 employees and officials colluded to distribute saroops with out depositing the prescribed choices (bheta) into have confidence funds. Whereas the SGPC has already taken departmental action against these contributors, the AAP government no longer too long ago escalated the subject by registering an FIR and forming a diversified investigation group (SIT).
Giani Gargaj cautioned against the political exploitation of the sensitive effort. “No political celebration will hang to are attempting to fetch hang the benefit of this. Anybody doing so will doubtless be held responsible to the Akal Takht for betraying Panthic pursuits,” he acknowledged.
He moreover expressed effort over the “low-stage analogies and low terminology” feeble by commentators on social media, warning that such disrespect in opposition to the residing Guru is “unbearable”.
The subject, first uncovered by the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO) in 2020, has change into a flashpoint between the AAP-led government and the SGPC. Whereas the SGPC beforehand considered the FIR as an attack on its autonomy, chief minister Bhagwant Mann accused the committee of the utilization of the Takht as a “defend” for immoral officials.
The FIR, registered on December 7, contains charges of prison breach of have confidence and hurting non secular sentiments. High-profile arrests, including Satinder Singh Kohli, a worn inner auditor, hang already been made.
