Amritsar: Centre still to give appointment to JAC constituted by SGPC

Amritsar, June 13

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The 11-member joint action committee (JAC), constituted by the SGPC on the issue of release of Sikh political prisoners, seems to have lost its steam.

It’s been over a fortnight when the SGPC had sought appointment with the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the CMs of Delhi and Karnataka to deliberate the cause, but their offices have not confirmed the appointment yet.

A list of 22 Sikh prisoners languishing in jails of various states has been prepared.

SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the names of all 11 JAC members were submitted to the offices of the PM, HM, Delhi CM and Karnataka CM.

“We had sent a request for appointment with the PM and HM on May 20 and 24, respectively, but nothing has happened so far,” he said.

Another issue is the bickering among the members. Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Baljit Singh Daduwal was the first JAC member to object to the inclusion of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Another JAC member SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann, during the Operation Bluestar anniversary programme on June 6, had demanded Sukhbir to vacate his chair for a Sikh political prisoner.

Similarly, Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee president Harmeet Singh Kalka not only objected to Sukhbir’s presence, but also targeted another JAC member Avtar Singh Hit, head of Takht Patna Sahib management board. Kalka had already submitted before Akal Takht officiating Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to initiate religious punishment against Hit, holding him responsible for distortion of Gurbani verses during the latter’s stint as the DSGMC president in 2005.

Dhami said all showed solidarity unanimously during the JAC meetings held on May 11 and 19, but later they released adverse statements.

“This panel was formed on the directions of Akal Takht with the sole aim of getting Sikh prisoners released. It will be our duty to take all leaders together, keeping aside the differences,” he said.