SGPC rejects FIR in holy saroops case, calls it direct attack on Akal Takht’s authority
PTC Web Desk: The executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), under the leadership of president Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, convened a special meeting on Thursday during which it condemned the Punjab Government’s decision to register an FIR in the matter related to the holy saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The committee termed the move a direct challenge to the authority of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and an act of state interference in SGPC’s administrative jurisdiction.
Sharing details about the resolution passed at the meeting, Advocate Dhami clarified that despite the fact that all action regarding the issue had already been completed as per the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the recent participation of government ministers, the Speaker and MLAs in a protest held on the heritage walkway leading to Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, followed by their instructions to police to file a case, exposed the government’s political motives.
He stated that the case concerning the holy saroops was not about sacrilege or missing saroops, but rather a matter of financial misappropriation by a few SGPC employees. Presenting the issue as one of sacrilege is, according to him, a deliberate political conspiracy aimed at defaming the apex Sikh institution and hurting Sikh sentiments.
Advocate Dhami added that the inquiry committee headed by Dr Ishar Singh Advocate, constituted by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, clearly stated in its report that certain employees of SGPC’s Publications Department attempted to cover up their misconduct driven by personal greed. Based on this report, the Executive Committee had already acted under Resolution No. 466 dated August 27, 2020, including initiating legal proceedings against several employees.
However, because several Sikh scholars and the inquiry report did not recommend filing police cases, the committee, through Resolution No. 493 dated September 5, 2020, decided to handle the matter internally in order to avoid police interference in the sacred process of verifying holy saroops. Both resolutions were later ratified through the General House’s Resolution No. 366 dated February 28, 2020.
Criticising the government’s recent decision to lodge an FIR, Advocate Dhami alleged that the move is meant to divert attention from its failures in Punjab and to fulfil political interests, especially when the government that rose to power by promising justice in sacrilege cases has failed to deliver even after four years.
The SGPC president said today’s meeting strongly condemned the government's attempt to malign Sikh institutions and warned that the Sikh community will never allow political interference in the management of its religious bodies.
It was also resolved that since all action had already been taken based on the report of Dr Ishar Singh’s inquiry commission under the guidance of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the entire matter will now be forwarded to the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib for further consideration and directions.
Responding to a question, Advocate Dhami clarified that the Hindi translation of the English book ‘Sikh History,’ published in 1999, had already been banned and withdrawn by the SGPC, with public notices issued twice. He said repeatedly raising the issue now is also driven by political motives.
- PTC NEWS
