Jagir Kaur asked to explain
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 7 — The Sikh clergy has sought written explanation of Bibi Jagir Kaur, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for presenting ‘siropa’ (robe of honour) to Mr Om Parkash Chautala, Chief Minister, Haryana, in the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple.

Mr Chautala had paid his obeisance at the Golden Temple few days after taking over as the Chief Minister of Haryana. The general house of the SGPC earlier had stopped the practice of presenting "siropas" to devotees in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple few months ago.

This is perhaps for the first time that a written explanation has been sought by the Sikh clergy from the SGPC chief on such issues.

The explanation sought by the Sikh clergy on the letter-head of Akal Takht (number 232 Akal Takht, 1999) was despatched to Bibi Jagir Kaur today. Giani Puran Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht, Giani Kewal Singh Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib, Prof Manjit Singh, Jathedar Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Mohan Singh, Head Granthi Darbar Sahib and Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi Akal Takht have put their signatures on the explanation sought from Bibi Jagir Kaur. Though the explanation call did not mention the name of Mr Chautala yet it was clear that the action was initiated when "Shiromani bulletin" published by the SGPC carried the photograph in this regard in its edition in August. The photograph shows Bibi Jagir Kaur presenting "siropa" to Mr Chautala in the sanctum sanctorum. Mr Paradeep Singh Walia, president, Shiromani Akali Dal, Amritsar (urban) and senior functionaries of the SGPC are also seen in the picture.

The letter of the Sikh clergy further directs the SGPC to explain in writing if a devotee who pays obeisance at sanctum sanctorum would be presented ‘siropa’ or not? The letter of the Akal Takht further reads that there was lot of confusion in the minds of Sikh Sangat over issue of presenting "siropa" to devotees in the sanctum sanctorum. This confusion needs to be removed, the letter reads. The Sikh clergy has also enclosed a copy of the bulletin received by a devotee in this regard.

A section of the Sant Samaj had strongly objected the decision of the SGPC to stop the practice of presenting siropa to the devotees in sanctum sanctorum. However, the SGPC had pleaded that this practice was stopped on the repeated requests of Sikh Sangat which could not afford ‘offering’ of Rs 101 for getting ‘siropa’.

According to a confidant of Giani Puran Singh, the Akal Takht secretariat had received many complaints for allegedly violating the decision of the SGPC for presenting ‘siropa’ in the sanctum sanctorum, by its chief.