SGPC to take up Bhullar case with PM Modi, Shah

Surinder Bhardwaj

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Fatehgarh Sahib, December 19

Gobind Singh Longowal, SGPC president, today rejected the allegations of SAD MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and other Taksali leaders regarding the control of the Badal family over the Sikh body. He claimed that the SGPC was an independent religious body of the Sikhs, its interim committee was supreme and enjoyed all powers to run its affairs and there was no interference of any political party, family or any individual.

Longowal today presided over the first meeting of the newly constituted interim committee wherein various resolutions were passed. The committee termed the status quo by the Supreme Court on the release of TADA convict Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar as unfortunate. It said the move had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.

The interim committee decided to explore all legal options to engage top lawyers to file a review petition in the Supreme Court for Bhullar’s release and all expenses would be borne by the SGPC. The committee decided that a delegation would call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to apprise them of the resentment among the Sikhs over the U-turn on conversion of Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence into life imprisonment.

The committee decided the SGPC would transport Guru Granth Sahib “saroops” to Canada through a special charter flight and further to the US and other countries to fulfil the demand of the overseas Sikhs.

The SGPC also decided to run daily bus service from Amritsar to Dera Baba Nanak for the convenience of devotees going to pay obeisance at Kartarpur, Pakistan.

On a query on the Citizenship Amendment Act, Longowal said the SGPC had always demanded that every one irrespective of religion should be given citizenship and it was unfortunate that Muslims had not been included.