SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, SGPC head Dhami submit written 'clarifications' to Akal Takht Jathedar on allegations by rebel party leaders

GS Paul

Amritsar, July 24

Abiding by the Akal Takht directions, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Wednesday submitted their respective ‘clarifications’ in writing, in sealed envelopes to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, on the allegations leveled by a group of disgruntled Akali leaders.

Jathedar said that further decision would be taken in the upcoming meeting of five high priests when the letters would be opened. “Decision would be taken only after going through the contents of the letters”, he said.

While Sukhbir refrained from commenting, Dhami said they were bound to obey the orders of the Akal Takht and submitted the clarification. “We are ready to face any decision, as deemed fit by the Akal Takht,” he said.

On July 1, a group of disgruntled Akali leaders including Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Karnail Singh Panjauli and Manjit Singh, stood before the Akal Takht with the ‘admission of guilt’ and prayed for penance while filing a joint letter of apology.

A fortnight later, Sukhbir was summoned by the five high priests at Akal Takht in person to respond to the rebels’ confession.

Similarly, the SGPC was questioned by the rebel Akalis for alleged ‘misuse’ of Rs 91 lakh of ‘golak money’ (money offered by the devotees) on advertisements to justify the controversial exoneration to Dera Sirsa cult Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. Both were given 15 days to clarify their stance in writing at Akal Takht.

Meanwhile, the rebel Akalis, in a joint letter, held Sukhbir, the then Home Minister, responsible for the inappropriate decisions leading to the party’s debacle politically.

They had mentioned four major ‘mistakes’ that had led to the Sikh-centric regional party’s debacle politically and religiously.

First, the flip-flop exoneration of the Dera Sirsa cult, second, a series of 2015 sacrilege incidents at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargarhi, as they viewed that these cases could not be pursued properly.

Third, a tainted IPS officer, who was infamous for fake encounters of Sikh youth, was elevated to the top post of state police.

Similarly, the wife of another controversial police officer was given a ticket for Assembly elections and was awarded with the post of chief parliamentary secretary.  And lastly, justice was never delivered to the victims of fake encounter cases.