Political hijacking of the institutions of the Shiromani Committee and Sri Akal Takht Sahib is unacceptable.
The case of 328 Holy Saroops is not merely about religious protocol, but about breach of trust and serious criminal wrongdoing.
Obstructing the rule of law amounts to betrayal of the Panth.
The case of 328 Holy Saroops is not merely about religious protocol, but about breach of trust and serious criminal wrongdoing.
Obstructing the rule of law amounts to betrayal of the Panth.
Amritsar
( Gurvinder sidhu)
Sikh thinker Prof. Sarchand Singh Khiala has called for an urgent review of the recent order in the case of 328 Holy Saroops, questioning how it can be justified that a pickpocket caught inside the Sri Darbar Sahib complex is immediately handed over to the police, while those responsible for misappropriation of the sacred trust (Guru Ki Golak) related to the Holy Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji are shielded, and anyone demanding legal action is branded a “Panth traitor” and intimidated in the name of religious traditions.
Prof. Khiala stated that truth can only emerge if the law is allowed to take its course. Pitting the justice system against religion or Sri Akal Takht Sahib is neither appropriate nor in the interest of the Panth. He clarified that the FIR in the 328 Saroops case was not registered at the behest of the government, but only after the Hon’ble High Court directed the DGP to respond by December 16 in a contempt-related petition, following which an SIT was constituted.
He accused the Akali leadership of politically hijacking the institution of the Jathedari of Sri Akal Takht Sahib through the Shiromani Committee. Today, both the SGPC and the Jathedari system are functioning under political subjugation. The statement of Singh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh that “I have now come to know that the Akal Takht’s authority is confined within four walls” stands as living proof of political interference.Prof. Khiala warned that politics has choked the moral and spiritual pathways of religion, leading to a severe erosion of values within the SGPC. He cautioned the Akali leadership against the misconception that Sri Akal Takht Sahib can be confined to political boundaries, reminding that history bears witness to the rejection by the Sikh Sangat of the pardon granted to Ram Rahim under political pressure on September 24, 2015, which had to be withdrawn within 20 days.
Questioning the double standards of the SGPC and the Jathedars, he asked that if legal action is deemed unjustified, then why FIRs were registered in over 25 cases, including the sacrilege incident involving scaling the Darbar Sahib railing, the case against Archana Makwana, the registration of FIRs after assaulting those seeking justice in the 328 Saroops case, and corruption cases related to employees at Gurdwara Gangsar Jaito, Faridkot.
He pointed out that the SGPC President has himself admitted to the occurrence of 10–20 scams daily, indirectly acknowledging irregularities in the 328 Saroops case as well. Despite claims that all Holy Saroops were disposed of as per protocol, the latest directive asking the public to report any information about missing Saroops clearly establishes that these Saroops are in fact unaccounted for, with no records available either with Sri Akal Takht Sahib or the SGPC.
He accused the Akali leadership of politically hijacking the institution of the Jathedari of Sri Akal Takht Sahib through the Shiromani Committee. Today, both the SGPC and the Jathedari system are functioning under political subjugation. The statement of Singh Sahib Giani Raghbir Singh that “I have now come to know that the Akal Takht’s authority is confined within four walls” stands as living proof of political interference.Prof. Khiala warned that politics has choked the moral and spiritual pathways of religion, leading to a severe erosion of values within the SGPC. He cautioned the Akali leadership against the misconception that Sri Akal Takht Sahib can be confined to political boundaries, reminding that history bears witness to the rejection by the Sikh Sangat of the pardon granted to Ram Rahim under political pressure on September 24, 2015, which had to be withdrawn within 20 days.
Questioning the double standards of the SGPC and the Jathedars, he asked that if legal action is deemed unjustified, then why FIRs were registered in over 25 cases, including the sacrilege incident involving scaling the Darbar Sahib railing, the case against Archana Makwana, the registration of FIRs after assaulting those seeking justice in the 328 Saroops case, and corruption cases related to employees at Gurdwara Gangsar Jaito, Faridkot.
He pointed out that the SGPC President has himself admitted to the occurrence of 10–20 scams daily, indirectly acknowledging irregularities in the 328 Saroops case as well. Despite claims that all Holy Saroops were disposed of as per protocol, the latest directive asking the public to report any information about missing Saroops clearly establishes that these Saroops are in fact unaccounted for, with no records available either with Sri Akal Takht Sahib or the SGPC.
Prof. Khiala emphasized that this is not merely a religious or procedural issue but a case of criminal breach of trust, which is evident from the fact that the SGPC itself has taken action against its employees for corruption and negligence. Such conduct towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji has deeply hurt Sikh sentiments.
He recalled that under the orders of the Five Singh Sahibs dated July 24, 2020, the SGPC’s Interim Committee passed Resolution No. 466 on August 27, 2020, deciding to initiate criminal proceedings against six of the sixteen persons found guilty by the inquiry commission, even constituting a panel of lawyers. However, a week later, through Resolution No. 493, the matter was diluted to mere departmental action, bypassing the earlier directive—without any explanation to date.He concluded that had the SGPC acted honestly and impartially in time, the matter would not have reached this stage. Since no FIR has been registered against the SGPC itself, the fundamental question remains: whom is the Committee desperately trying to protect?
He recalled that under the orders of the Five Singh Sahibs dated July 24, 2020, the SGPC’s Interim Committee passed Resolution No. 466 on August 27, 2020, deciding to initiate criminal proceedings against six of the sixteen persons found guilty by the inquiry commission, even constituting a panel of lawyers. However, a week later, through Resolution No. 493, the matter was diluted to mere departmental action, bypassing the earlier directive—without any explanation to date.He concluded that had the SGPC acted honestly and impartially in time, the matter would not have reached this stage. Since no FIR has been registered against the SGPC itself, the fundamental question remains: whom is the Committee desperately trying to protect?
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