SGPC blames police, Amritsar admn

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 12

The SGPC has taken strong note of the chaos witnessed at the Golden Temple on Wednesday terming it administrative lapse.

Besides the two incidents – protest against Akal Takht Jathedar and Dhian Singh Mand’s parallel address — another instance that came to light was that an unidentified person allegedly tried to climb over the Toshakhana, the pious treasure house of the Golden Temple.

Even as the person is yet to be identified, the SGPC claimed that he was a Mand supporter. SGPC officials said this person had not even tried to climb over the Toshakhana when Giani Gurbachan Singh was delivering the public address. They claimed that the accused also kicked to break open the door. He was nabbed, but was let off to avert any clash.

SGPC chief Avtar Singh Makkar said had the police and administration been vigilant, such unfortunate instances would not have occurred.

“On our end, we had made elaborate arrangements, but it was sheer lapse on the part of police force deputed in and around the Golden Temple complex that such unscrupulous elements entered the Golden Temple complex and vitiate the serene ambience of the holy shrine. It was failure on part of the police intelligence that Mand and his supporters managed to enter the complex and created panic among the devotees. The person who tried to break open the doors of Toshakhana by climbing over it through Darshani Deodi was also a Mand’s supporter,” he said.

Earlier, Sikh groups Dal Khalsa and Panch Pardhani had issued a warning that they would not let Giani Gurbachan Singh to deliver the customary address, alleging he had lost the Sikh community's faith by granting pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda head.