Complaint filed against Punjab CM Mann, Sikh members of Punjab Assembly at Sri Akal Takht Sahib
PTC Web Desk: A formal complaint has been submitted at Sri Akal Takht Sahib against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and all Sikh members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly for paying tribute to Joginder Singh, former patron of the Spokesman newspaper, who had been excommunicated from the Sikh community. The tribute was offered during the monsoon session of the Punjab Assembly on September 1, while commemorating various departed souls.
The complainant, Gurnam Singh, submitted a petition to the Akal Takht Secretariat, seeking disciplinary action against Punjab CM Mann, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and all Sikh MLAs for violating Sikh principles. Gurnam Singh expressed concern that the Assembly, which has a majority of Sikh members, paid homage to a man who was excommunicated by the highest authority of the Sikh faith for his anti-Sikh actions.
Joginder Singh had been excommunicated by Sri Akal Takht Sahib for allegedly spreading misleading interpretations of Sikh scripture and for publishing derogatory content against Sikh institutions in his newspaper. Despite being summoned to the Akal Takht to answer for his actions, Singh never appeared before the Sikh clergy, leading to his excommunication. Gurnam Singh said "paying tribute to such a person is a serious breach of Sikh religious code".
The complaint has demanded that Punjab CM Mann, Speaker Sandhwan, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and other Sikh legislators be summoned to the Akal Takht and face disciplinary measures in accordance with Sikh traditions. Gurnam Singh also pointed out that the tribute goes against the fundamental Sikh principles upheld by Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
- With inputs from our correspondent