''Pathis'' raise slogans at Golden Temple in Sukhbir’s presence

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 31

'Pathis' (priests) at the Golden Temple on Monday protested against “low wages” in the presence of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and Union Minister Harsimrat Badal while the 'akhand path' was on.

Sukhbir and Harsimrat were there to be part of the akhand path being performed at the Akal Takht on their behalf.

The protesting 'pathis' of the Golden Temple, supported by their colleagues from Gurdwara Shahidan Sahib, Gurdwara Budha Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Bakala, refused to accept fresh 'akhand path' bookings till their grievances were redressed.

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There are around 800 'pathis' engaged temporarily with the Golden Temple, 500 with Gurdwara Shahidan Sahib and nearly 150 each with Gurdwara Budha Sahib and Gurdwara Baba Bakala. They demanded a raise in their wages, besides other basic facilities offered to the regular SGPC employees.

Pathi Angrej Singh alleged that the SGPC had been adopting double standards when it came to paying wages or offering medical and educational facilities to its employees. He said the SGPC had granted them a raise of just Rs 50 per shift on the insistence of Sukhbir Badal, prior to the elections.

“But today, SGPC officials refused to entertain us and we were forced to shun work to raise our concern. Majority of the 'pathis' have been associated with the respective gurdwaras for the past over three decades, but are being given indifferent treatment in comparison to other employees. Neither our children are allowed to study in the SGPC institutes nor are we entitled to free medical aid in its hospitals. We have repeatedly approached successive SGPC presidents, but to no avail,” he said.

Harsimrat Badal condemned the move. “It was unbecoming on their part to vitiate the spiritual environs by raising slogans,” she said.

A delegation of priests under the banner of Shiromani Akhand Pathi Welfare Society met SGPC officials. SGPC’s executive member Ram Singh also termed their behaviour bad. “They could have approached us. But hampering the 'akhand path; and raising slogans in the Golden Temple complex was uncalled for,” he said.

Sources said the agitating pathis were later given a raise of another Rs 50 per shift.