Siropa to Capt: Badungar’s statement stirs up debate

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 25

The announcement by SGPC Chief Kirpal Singh Badungar to felicitate Capt Amarinder Singh with siropa upon his visit to the Golden Temple has left political circles bemused. Sikh intellectuals and organisations call it political opportunism. The Chief Minister is expected to visit the holy city next month.

Earlier, he was denied siropa during his visit to the Golden Temple after becoming the Chief Minister in 2002. It had evoked a sharp reaction after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, then headed by Gurcharan Singh Tohra, denied him siropa.

In response, some of the officials of the SGPC had reasoned that he was denied siropa as he used to colour his beard against the Sikh tenets. “It confuses common people whether the earlier stand was right or the present one,” said All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Karnail Singh Peermohammad. He said the SGPC chief needed to review his decision.

“Capt Amarinder Singh is a good person, but the SGPC should not give him siropa as his party was involved in the military attack on the Golden Temple and anti-Sikh riots of 1984,” he said. He said the CM must apologise for the misconduct of his party.

Manjit Singh Calcutta, who had been the general secretary of the SAD and the SGPC for nearly 25 years, alleged that the decision to give siropa to the CM was politically motivated. He said the four doors of the Golden Temple were opened for followers of all faiths and politics should not influence the decisions of the SGPC in running the affairs of the Sikh shrine.

Former Jathedar of Damdami Taksal, Giani Kewal Singh said, “There should not be any discrimination in granting siropa in the Sachkhand (sanctum sanctorum) of the Golden Temple.” He demanded the formulation of a code of conduct to felicitate dignitaries visiting the Golden Temple. However, he added, the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) must be followed while felicitating people at the Akal Takht where only Sikhs could be honoured.