SGPC denies allegations of relief to flood victims being used by SAD

After Opposition members in the SGPC raised the matter of relief material, meant for flood victims, being distributed by SAD leaders in the Malwa region, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami today refuted the allegations, stating that proper procedure was being followed while issuing funds to procure the material.An executive member stated that resolution No. 53, released during the executive meeting of the SGPC held on September 11, intimated that ration, fodder and diesel had been procured in anticipation of approval from a secretary. A section of the executive objected to it and demanded that the SGPC president should have taken the matter in his hands instead of delegating the matter to a secretary.

They also shared a video of a son of a district-level Akali Dal leader in Malwa distributing diesel among flood victims. They sought the deployment of SGPC employees and members instead.

SGPC members Paramjit Kaur, Satwinder Singh, Malkiat Singh, Rampal Singh also objected to the utilisation of the SGPC funds for political benefits.

Refuting the allegation of the SGPC-funded relief being distributed by SAD leaders for achieving their political goals, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, addressing mediapersons here on Saturday, said false statements were being issued by some members of the SGPC on the distribution of relief. He suggested that they should desist from playing politics at this juncture and share the pain of the victims instead.

Dhami said executive committee member Jaswant Singh Purain and some other members were misleading people by making false statements. He said the SGPC had been providing relief services to the people without any discrimination from the first day itself, which was the duty of the Sikh body. He also clarified that after the meeting of the interim committee, he shared with the media the details of the relief work done by various gurdwaras and the expenses incurred so far.

Dhami said after receiving the demand to strengthen the embankments of the Ghaggar, the SGPC had approved to release 3,000 litres of diesel, out of which 2,000 litres of oil had been released. The entire record, including the demand made by the people and the details of the people to whom the oil reached, was available.

Meanwhile, the Akal Takht announced sarkarekhalsa.org website for the rehabilitation and relief of flood victims of Punjab in an organised manner.

The decision was taken as per the suggestions received at a special meeting of Sikh organisations, NGOs, groups and individuals providing relief services during the floods, held at the SGPC office here on Saturday.