AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—The sacked Punj Piare of Akal Takht Sahib have asked the SGPC to rollback its appreciation resolution passed in favour of unasked pardon granted to the Sirsa cult chief by its appointed Takht Jathedars. Notably, the SGPC appointed Takht Jathedars had granted an unasked pardon to Sirsa cult chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in blasphemy charges on September 24, 2015, and the SGPC had appreciated the move at that time, spending millions of rupees in newspaper advertisements in support of the resolution.
Interacting with media today at Sri Amritsar Sahib, Bhai Satnam Singh Khanda, Bhai Major Singh and Bhai Mangal Singh said that although the SGPC appointed Takht Jathedars had rolled back their decision of pardoning Sirsa cult chief on October 16, 2015 but the appreciation resolution passed by the SGPC on September 29, 2015 was still lying as it is. They added that the move also raises questions over working of SGPC.
Bhai Satnam Singh Khanda said, “We ask the SGPC to provide an explanation on why they spent huge amounts of money in Punjabi newspapers. SGPC must also take back their appreciation and apologize for downgrading Sikh standards when they supported a rapist cult leader.”
Terming the appreciation resolution passed by SGPC on September 29, 2015 as a major embarrassment for entire Sikh community, the former Punjab Piare have said that since the Sirsa cult chief has been proved guilty in rape case of two female disciples the appreciation resolution makes the SGPC a source of mockery for common masses.
