SGPC ex-chief Bibi Jagir Kaur condemns former Jathedar for recording statement

Related news: Not summoned, SIT visited my home, says Akal Takht ex-Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh

Kaur is the second leader from Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Punar Surjit to have opposed the former Jathedar for appearing before the SIT. Her reaction came a day after former Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, president of SAD Punar Surjit, opposed the move.

Kaur went on to claim that the Jathedar was playing into the hands of the “other”.

Harpreet Singh, who was one of the five Sikh high priests when SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal was given religious punishment, had reasoned that the Akal Takht proceedings could not be a part of evidence.

Kaur echoed the sentiment, saying, “The entire episode that occurred on December 2 was in public domain, widely covered in the media- both on television and in print. Why did [Raghbir] have to appear before the SIT? It is obligatory for a priest to keep a secret shared by the disciple and by appearing before the SIT, he has committed an act of disobedience.”

Act undermines maryada of Akal Takht: Victim’s son

Sukhraj Singh Niamiwala, the son of Krishan Bhagwan Singh, who was killed in the Behbal Kalan police firing incident in 2015, has also criticised Giani Raghbir Singh for allegedly recording his statement before the SIT. Terming it an act that undermines the maryada of the Akal Takht, he said the Akal Takht had always been regarded as an institution whose decisions were above worldly courts.

“On one hand, we teach our children that the Akal Takht is the supreme authority and that its decisions do not come under any worldly court. On the other hand, the former Jathedar himself recorded a statement before a police team,” he added.

Sukhraj argued that bringing matters related to the Akal Takht before legal courts or investigative agencies could set an adverse precedent. “If this becomes a practice, it may backfire in the future. Whenever any religious punishment or directive is issued by the Akal Takht, people may start challenging it,” he added.

Referring to the ongoing probe, Sukhraj claimed that the challan was still incomplete, not presented in the court, and questioned the manner in which the investigation had progressed over the years. He also referred to the role of former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, who is currently an AAP MLA from Amritsar North, and a former member of the SIT, alleging differences between his public statements and the findings in the investigation records.

“Earlier, Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh publicly stated that the Badal family was responsible. However, when the investigation report came, no one but the duty magistrate was held responsible,” he said.

Notably, Sukhraj contested the Gidderbaha bypoll in November 2024 as the SAD (Amritsar) nominee and received just 715 votes.