SGPC demands action against Punjab CM in Sultanpur Lodhi gurdwara incident

Amritsar, February 1

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is all set to take the state AAP government head-on over the incident which took place at Gurdwara Sri Akal Bunga Sahib in Sultanpur Lodhi.

After conducting a special general house meeting, a resolution was passed that a case should be registered under Section 295-A of the IPC against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and officials who were responsible for violating ‘maryada’ while handling the clash between the police and the Nihang Singh organisations.

It was alleged in the SGPC’s panel report that on November 23, the police personnel had entered the gurdwara premises with their shoes on, opened firing and threw tear gas in an attempt to defuse the situation. This had also led to disruption in the Akhand Path going on then at the gurdwara.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had held the CM guilty of “religious misconduct”.

Several SGPC members in their address strongly condemned the “unprovoked” police action and demanded resignation of the CM and other officials responsible for it.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said a delegation of the SGPC would meet the Governor to seek action against the CM. “The members unanimously decided that if no action is taken, the SGPC will go for legal action and bring the accused to book. Along with this, it has also been decided to draw a strategy against the state government by calling a large gathering of representatives of various organisations,” Dhami said.

The state government was also warned against dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was attempting to open a dera in the Doaba area of Punjab. Dhami said it could lead to serious law and order situation. He said that the SGPC had a clear policy against the culprits in any sacrilege case while some mischievous people were raising unnecessary questions by linking the Sultanpur Lodhi incident with the Bargari incident. He said even in the Bargari case, during the 2021 general meeting of the SGPC, stern action was demanded against the accused persons by passing a resolution.