SGPC member Baldev Singh presents a siropa to Mr Parkash Singh Badal at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, Tarn
Taran, on Tuesday. — Tribune photo by Rajiv Sharma |
Tarn Taran, September 14
Even as the two-member fact-finding committee constituted by the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) today indicted Mr Baldev Singh, an SGPC member, for molesting the wife of a raagi, the accused today publicly honoured Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, at “dhadi darbar” held at Manji Sahib, Darbar Sahib, here today.
The “dhadi darbar” was organised by the Sri Guru Hargobind Shiromani Dhadi Jatha , headed by Mr Baldev Singh. The Dhadi Jatha sought to dismiss the charges levelled against its president.
The stage secretary said though it was a religious function, he wanted to clarify that the allegations levelled against Mr Baldev Singh were part of a deep-rooted conspiracy, hatched by his political opponents. Interestingly, one of the dhadis (ballad singers) showered words of praise for Mr Badal and prayed for an early installation of his government in the state.
Later, talking to mediapersons, Mr Badal seemed non-committal on taking action against the SGPC member. “When the accused SGPC member says he is ready to face action if the complainant, Manjit Kaur, or her husband raagi Ranjit Singh repeat the allegations in front of Akal Takht, what else do they want,” said Mr Badal, adding that had Mr Baldev Singh been found guilty, he would have been arrested by the police.
He said his party could initiate action if someone was proved guilty by an appropriate authority.
Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, said though no action could be initiated against the SGPC member till he was proved guilty he should stay away from religious functions till the time he got a clean chit from a competent authority.
Mr Baldev Singh was spotted singing ballads in front of Akal Takht yesterday though a complaint of moral turpitude against him is pending with the Sikh clergy.
Meanwhile, the jatha of Mr Baldev Singh alleged that Manjit Kaur was a habitual complainant.
Mr Baldev Singh described the two-page report of the SAD(A) as biased. He alleged that one of the two members who conducted inquiry did not approach him for his version, which was a prerequisite for any inquiry. He alleged that one of the inquiry committee members nursed a grouse against him as he had unsuccessfully contested the SGPC elections against him.
The two-page inquiry report of the SAD (A) states that Mr Baldev Singh went to the house of the complainant in an official Qualis vehicle without any invitation and molested her. She raised the alarm following which the SGPC member fled on his official vehicle. The report claimed that the son of an Akali MLA from Lopoke later visited the house of the victim with a view to pressurising her to withdraw the case.
