Rahul Gandhi being honoured at Amritsar gurdwara sparks controversy; SGPC orders probe

A controversy has erupted over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi being offered a ‘siropa’ at the SGPC-run Gurdwara Samadh Baba Budha Sahib in Ramdass during his visit to flood-ravaged areas in Punjab’s Amritsar and Gurdaspur on Monday.

Facing flak, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami has ordered a probe, which is likely to be completed by Tuesday evening.

The Congress leader was given a ‘siropa’ at the sanctum sanctorum of the historic gurdwara by a granthi. The SGPC executive has restricted the siropa ceremony only for Sikh religious figures since it is performed in front of Guru Granth Sahib.

However, siropaos or siropas, as known in religious circles, have also been offered in the past to special visitors, including the President, Prime Minister and heads of foreign states, at the Golden Temple after holding of a separate programme.

SGPC members Surinder Singh Bhulewal, Manjit Singh and Malkit Singh Changal, in a statement, condemned the SGPC for giving the siropa to Rahul Gandhi.

They alleged that that “behind the veil efforts were being made to grant forgiveness to the Gandhi family even though it was instrumental in attacking the Golden Temple, demolition of Akal Takht and the Sikh genocide in Delhi”.