Sukhbir’s apology means nothing; SAD, SGPC stand exposed: Experts

Sanjeev S Bariana/ GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar/Chandigarh, Aug 6

Terming the apology by SAD president Sukhbir Badal to Akal Takht as “vague”, a cross-section of politicians and experts in religious studies say that the SAD and the SGPC have exposed themselves by using Takht politics for personal benefits.

Nothing short of mockery

Sikhism has a tradition of seeking ‘maafi’ from Akal Takht, but the manner in which Sukhbir sought it lacked sanctity and is nothing short of mockery. — Dr Amarjit Singh, Head of the centre on Guru Granth Sahib Studies, GNDU

Giani Kewal Singh, former jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, says that before taking any decision, the five high priests should engage a retired judge and a panel of Sikh intellectuals to scrutinise the “unanswered” questions hovering in the mind and soul of the Sikh community in regard to the incidents of 2015.

While Prof Paramvir Singh, Department of Sikhism, Punjabi University, Patiala, asserts: “Everyone stands exposed,” Dr Kehar Singh, formerly from the Department of Political Science of the university, declares: “We are standing on the cusp of change.”

Prof Harpal Singh, formerly with the Sikh National College, says: “The SAD is sinking and clutching at the straw of forgiveness to revive its image. A straw cannot save a sinking party.”

Anything the party says needs to be backed with credibility, which it has lost, he alleges. “It lost its base when it introduced caste politics and went all out to impress Jatt Sikhs with free electricity. Non-Jatts were among the top party leadership in the early years,” he adds.

“The SAD has got nothing to do with Sikhism,” clarifies leading Sikh scholar Gurdarshan Dhillon. “It is only associated with revival, and not reforms in Sikhism.”

“Going to Akal Takht with an apology is meaningless as the Akalis have political interests. Akal Takht belongs to Sikhs, not to any party. It was Mahatma Gandhi who supported the Akalis because he wanted them to join the Congress,” he adds.

“The response submitted by Sukhbir was vague. Accepting his mistake means nothing without resigning immediately and seeking penance. As per ‘maryada’, he was bound to spell out the mistakes for which he had sought atonement. He was liable to answer who arranged the controversial ‘poshak’ (attire) for the Dera Sirsa cult in 2007? Why was the FIR against him withdrawn? Under what circumstances and pressure was he exonerated? The SAD and the SGPC put the community’s faith and Akal Takht’s ‘maryada’ at stake for political gains,” Kewal Singh states.

Now in the rebel camp, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur feels it is good that Sukhbir confessed to the ‘mistakes’, but says remedy is not possible until he and his coterie are replaced. “We sought apology for being a moot spectator to the unpleasant decisions of the party. Whatever happened in 2015 was orchestrated to gain votes. We hope that Akal Takht will take a neutral stand,” she says.

Claiming that he had opposed the pardon granted to Dera Sirsa head, SAD spokesperson Virsa Singh Valtoha says: “However, there was no political mileage to gain as elections were not due in 2015. The pardon to the Dera head was a blunder by the then Akal Takht jathedar. He had apologised to the Panth — though indirectly — before quitting in October 2018. Since the matter is sub judice with Akal Takht, it is not right to comment on it further.”

Sikh intellectual Ashok Singh Bagaria from the Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh, remarks: “The fact that the existing SAD leadership has been discarded was proved by the fact that the party lost its deposits in most Lok Sabha seats it contested. The SGPC, too, wavered from the path and became a mere tool for the SAD.”

“Sikhism has a tradition of seeking “maafi” from Akal Takht,” comments Dr Amarjit Singh, head of the Centre on Guru Granth Sahib Studies, GNDU, “but the manner in which Sukhbir sought it lacked sanctity and is nothing short of a mockery.”

Talking about the complainants, Dr Kehar Singh says they cannot be exonerated. “Those making allegations also did not have anything substantial to showcase as they were all together when in power. I don’t think ‘tankah’ will have any meaning.”