SAD seeks Akal Takht action after ex-Jathedar’s SIT statement
Shiromani Akali Dal accuses Akal Takh Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh of breaching ‘hukamnama’, politicising religious proceedings
A day after former Akal Takh Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh recorded his statement before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Behbal Kalan police firing case, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has urged Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to take serious note of the matter and initiate appropriate action over the violation of Sikh ‘maryada’.
In his statement to the SIT, Giani Raghbir Singh reportedly said SAD chief and former Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had acknowledged responsibility for the Behbal Kalan firing during proceedings at the Akal Takht Sahib.
The SAD condemned Giani Raghbir Singh for violating the ‘hukamnama’ of the Takht by using proceedings of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs in court related cases.
Party spokesperson Dr Daljit Cheema said the former Jathedar has also damaged the prestige of the institution.
Cheema said it was condemnable that Giani Raghbir Singh had become a “stooge” of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and had gone to the extent of presenting himself before the SIT in relation with the deposition given by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal to the Takht.
Cheema further said that the former Jathedar had not only announced religious punishment to the SAD leadership but had also declared them free after they completed the punishment. “By raking up this issue again and politicising a religious issue in collusion with AAP, Giani Raghbir Singh has violated the ‘maryada’ of the Takht. This does not behove a former Jathedar and damages the prestige of the institution,” he said.
SAD leader Arshdeep Kler alleged that AAP was using the former Akal Takht Jathedar to divert public attention from pressing issues facing the state.
“An attempt is being made to politicise the sacrilege issue in the run up to the 2027 Assembly elections,” Kler claimed.
He further alleged that the move was linked to ongoing court proceedings in the Kotkapura police firing case. “The government is being questioned in court over the delay in the investigation despite the submission of challans. The court has sought a status report on the pending probe by July 18. This is why a fresh conspiracy is being hatched to keep the case alive,” Kler alleged.
