AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The committee constituted by Sarbat Khalsa-appointed jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara to lead the present Sikh struggle today stated that the inquiry report in the case of missing 328 Guru Granth Sahib’s holy saroops was motivated by the leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) that dominates the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Giani Harpreet Singh, SGPC-appointed acting jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib.
The statement comes days after the SGPC made a 1000-page full report public following persistent demand of the Sikh masses. “After going through the report, it has been found that the report does not seem to be impartial and it protects the political interests of the SAD (Badal). It has been prepared in such a manner that It does not damage these interests,” in the statement issued by the committee that comprises Advocate Amar Singh Chahal, Professor Baljinder Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Advocate Dilsher Singh and Mahabir Singh Sultanwind and others.
The committee told Sikh24, “The report has failed to deliver justice to the community in this sensitive matter. We were surprised to see that the inquiry panel stamps on its failure by asking the SGPC to ascertain the whereabouts of the missing saroops. The report contains the statements of the SGPC staffers, devotees, and various other concerned persons. Every statement carries the signature of the respective person. However, the signatures of the members of the panel are found only at the end of the report. It gives us reason to suspect that the report has been manipulated”.
“It is unfortunate that the SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal and members of Badal family that controls the SAD (B) and the SGPC, were not involved in the inquiry”, says the panel.
It further says, “On directions of Badals, massive damage done by fire incident took place in publishing house of the SGPC in 2016 was hid by the SGPC months before 2017 Punjab assembly elections. Backed by Badals, infamous CA firm SS Kohli and Associates charges crore of rupees every year from the SGPC, but this firm never performed its duty. No stringent action was taken against this firm. The SAD (B) leadership once again used Akal Takht Sahib as shield to save its skin. Moreover, the SGPC executive panel betrayed Khalsa Panth by making a U-turn by withdrawing its resolution in which it decided to file criminal cases against the guilty staffers”.
Prior to this, the SGPC made public its 10 pages only, despite the Sikh organizations demanding full pages be disclosed.
The inquiry was conducted by Telangana High Court lawyer Ishar Singh-led panel constituted by the highest Sikh temporal seat. On basis of this report, the SGPC has taken action against its staffers but the Sikh organizations are not satisfied with it. So, they were demanding to declassify the full report, so that they can know the role of every person in the matter of misappropriation that led 328 saroops going missing.
