M A I N   N E W S

Pingalwara embroiled in row
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, May 2 — “It is to inform you that Kirpal Singh Bhagat, a former preacher of the All-India Pingalwara Society, was caught red-handed while breaking ‘golak’ (money box) of the institution, near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, New Delhi, last week. He was caught red-handed by the sangat (congregation). His face was blackened. He was then handed over to the police. A copy of the FIR is being sent to you for your information. Beware of the activities of this unscrupulous fellow.

Thus reads a letter written by Bibi Inderjit Kaur, president of the Society having an annual budget of more than Rs 6 crore, addressed to the Punjab Chief Minister, the President and members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and others.

Mr Kirpal Singh, who claimed himself to be an ‘heir’ of Bhagat Puran Singh, founder of the pingalwara, had also registered a society, the Bhagat Puran Singh Seva Sadan, after putting in his resignation as the preacher of the pingalwara in January this year.

Bibi Inderjit Kaur alleged that Mr Kirpal Singh tried in vain to establish ‘a parallel pingalwara’ by claiming himself to be the “real heir” of Bhagat Puran Singh.

Bibi Jagir Kaur, president, SGPC, and some jathedars of takhts are also caught in the controversy following contribution of their messages or articles in a booklet published by Sant Shamsher Singh, president, International Sant Samaj.

The editor of this booklet is Mr Daljit Singh, publicity in charge of the SGPC. Bibi Jagir Kaur released it at a function recently.

The first copy of the book was presented to Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner K.N. Singh. Bibi Jagir Kaur also presented a siropa to Mr Kirpal Singh Bhagat on this occasion.

However, Mr Kirpal Singh, when contacted by TNS, claimed that he was a victim of a conspiracy. He said he had got a certificate of ‘good services’ rendered for over 21 years in the pingalwara before his resignation was accepted. He said he had to resign due to differences with Bibi Inderjit Kaur. He, however, admitted that his face was blackened at the behest of close confidants of Bibi Inderjit Kaur. He alleged that Bibi Inderjit Kaur was “jealous” due to the booklet which described him as a man of devotion.

The booklet carried photographs of Giani Puran Singh, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kewal Singh, Jathedar, Takht Sri Damdama Sahib and many Sikh scholars while honouring Mr Kirpal Singh. Eminent writers and journalists, including Dr Kulbir Singh Kang, Mr Khuswant Singh, Lieut-Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora (retd), Dr Mahip Singh, Mr Kartar Singh Duggal and others.

Mr Baldev Singh Sibia, former SGPC chief, Mr Kirpal Singh, president of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, Dr Deepak Manmohan Singh, Dean, Panjab University and Dr Dalip Kaur Tiwana wrote in praise of Mr Kirpal Singh. They described him as “zealous servant of humanity”. Interestingly, Mr Kirpal Singh was also seen flanked by Bibi Inderjit Kaur in some of the photographs.

Bibi Inderjit Kaur claimed that Mr Kirpal Singh had deliberately published her old photographs along with him so that he could exploit the donors.

Mr Kirpal Singh alleged that he would “expose” corruption in the pingalwara at an appropriate time. Many relatives of Bibi Inderjit Kaur were involved in misappropriation of funds.

Mr Kirpal Singh denied that he was running the parallel pingalwara. He, however, admitted that he had registered a society to carry the message of Bhagat Puran Singh.