Bargari sacrilege case: SGPC questions Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for hesitating in taking action

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 7

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has questioned the state government for being lenient in the Bargari sacrilege case. Addressing a press conference, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami targeted Pradeep Kler, alleged to be the main conspirator in the case.

He said the government was shying away from prosecuting Dera Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his close disciple even after Kler had named them in his statement.

“The prosecution sanction is not being given by the Home Affairs and Justice Department of the Punjab Government to prosecute the dera head and others involved in sacrilege cases. Kler was also enjoying immunity despite being declared a proclaimed offender by the court,” he said.

He said the SGPC would ask the Chief Minister for an appointment in this matter. “If he does not respond positively, we will approach the Governor and not hesitatein taking a legal course, if needed,” he said.

Dhami also strongly condemned the irresponsible statements of a former IG and SIT head in sacrilege cases. He said the SGPC was never in favour of the closure report of the CBI, but the Central agency’s report was rejected by passing a resolution in the executive meeting of SGPC on July 17, 2019, and legal proceedings were initiated.

The SGPC is fighting a separate legal battle in the high court to stop the repeated paroles and furloughs allowed to the Dera Sirsa head by the government.