Sarna, Sirsa exchange heated words over court hearing

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 10

Sikh politics in the National Capital took an ugly turn on Friday with three major factions exchanging heated words, allegations and counter-allegations against each other.

Elections to the DSGMC, which were postponed due to the second surge of Covid, are slated anytime now.

President of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused his predecessor Paramjit Singh Sarna of ‘lying’ after Sarna had alleged that there was a ‘Look Out Circular’ against Sirsa.

Sarna cited an order of the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate saying a “Look Out Circular had been issued over suspicion that Sirsa might flee the country fearing arrest in connection with the ongoing court case on the alleged misuse of funds of the DSGMC”.

Countering him Sirsa, at a press conference, cited the same court order and said “there was no Look Out Circular, Sarna is lying”, and that

Investigating officer (IO) has informed the court that no ‘Look Out Circular’ has been issued as the accused persons (Sirsa and others) are joining in the investigation as and when asked, Sirsa said.

The court has directed the IO to ensure that the accused don’t flee from justice.  Sirsa said there was no question of fleeing. The matter is under investigation. The IO has informed the court that he was examining the funds and their outflow.

Sarna who heads the Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi (SADD) alleged Sirsa had sold off his properties. He challenged the Badals (former chief minister Parkash Singh and his son Sukhbir) to sack Sirsa to prove their claims as custodians of the Sikh cause. Sarna said Sirsa as he needs to be “brought to justice”.

Sirsa on his part accused the Sarna brothers (Paramjit and Harvinder) of playing the tune of the Congress. “Let them prove one allegation, I don’t need the court to tell me, I shall quit,” he said.

The Jag Aasra Guru Ott (JAGO) party led by Manjit Singh GK, a former president of the DSGMC joined in the war of words and accused Sirsa of ‘misleading’ the press’. Chief General Secretary and spokesperson of JAGO, Parminder Pal Singh, said Sirsa shockingly gave himself a clean chit. Sirsa should explain why he had okayed the bills (using the funds of DSGMC) for an event taking place at Badal’s bungalow in Delhi.