SGPC, satkar committee lock horns over shifting Guru Granth Sahib ‘bir’

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, April 22

Close on the heels of media reports on how its members thrashed some “pathis”, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee courted yet another controversy here today when its members came face to face with SGPC member Bibi Kiranjot Kaur after a “bir” of Guru Granth Sahib was gutted in a spark triggered by a short-circuit at a Kabir Park residence here.

Talking to The Tribune, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said, “I received a call from some residents of my area about the incident in which a fire broke out at a residence due to short-circuit. The “bir” of Guru Granth Sahib as well as the “palki” got gutted in the incident. I, along with the SGPC employees, reached there to bring back the “bir” as per the “maryada”. However, the committee members were already present there.”

She alleged that committee leader Amrik Singh also reached there and indulged in a heated argument with her apparently over the way they were carrying out the procedure. She said he insisted on getting a “palki” to take the “bir” back. Subsequently, she called up the SGPC which sent a vehicle for the same along with the task force members. “However, they were still adamant and said they will not allow our vehicle to move, contending that they’ve to carry out some investigation,” she said. She told them to let them first complete the procedure as per ‘maryada’ while any probe can follow later. However, they didn’t budge. Anticipating trouble, she called up the police which reached there soon following which the SGPC vehicle was allowed to leave and the situation was defused.

Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said they would file a written complaint against the Satkar Committee before the Akal Takht Jathedar tomorrow.

Incidentally, this is not the first instance when the SGPC and the Satkar Committee were involved in a confrontation. A few years back, the satkar committee had locked horns with the SGPC, alleging sacrilege by its employees while printing the holy book.