Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Friday launched a sharp attack on Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee) President Harjinder Singh Dhami over the controversy surrounding the SGPC sarai at Sri Anandpur Sahib and the FIR registered against Amarjit Singh Chawla and Malkit Singh. Baltej Pannu said that even after Amarjit Singh Chawla and Malkit Singh were expelled from the Panth, the SGPC had not put up even a single signboard outside its institutes and gurdwaras informing the Sikh sangat that no association should be maintained with them.
What did Baltej Pannu say while addressing the press?
In a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, Harjinder Singh Dhami is avoiding a press conference and had instead appeared through a video to announce a four-member committee and himself given 15 days to the committee to answer questions. What is the purpose of giving 15 days? Is Harjinder Singh Dhami hoping that after 15 days people will forget this matter? The questions are not going away. Sikh intellectuals and different Sikh organisations are now asking questions, and the SGPC has to answer them.”
Questioning the composition of the committee, Baltej Pannu asked how junior members could question senior leaders whose names had surfaced in the controversy. “The woman herself has said in her video that she had approached people with her complaint. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harjinder Singh Dhami have been named in the matter. Will these junior members question them? Who among these four members has the legal expertise required to investigate such a serious matter?” he asked.
What is the allegations on SGPC by Pannu?
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge said that if the SGPC genuinely wanted an impartial inquiry, it could have included a retired Sikh judge or a retired police officer who is a practising Gur Sikh and has experience of investigation and law. “Why was no such person included? Was there a fear that an honest and independent inquiry might bring out the truth?” Baltej Pannu asked.
Baltej Pannu questioned why the woman was allowed to stay in the SGPC sarai for such a long period and demanded answers about what exactly happened there. He also asked what role Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer and Virsa Singh Valtoha played in bringing the woman there and whether the committee would question them about the circumstances in which she was brought to the sarai.
Baltej Pannu said the entire exercise appeared to be aimed at keeping the matter pending and allowing it to cool down. “They have formed a committee of junior members and given it 15 days so that the issue can be pushed forward. But people are asking questions now, and the SGPC cannot escape those questions by simply announcing a committee,” he said.
What were Pannu’s opinions on woman’s character?
The AAP Punjab Media In-charge also strongly objected to the attempts to divert attention towards the woman’s character. Baltej Pannu said that instead of answering questions about the SGPC sarai and the circumstances in which she was kept there, statements were being made about cases allegedly registered against her and the period she spent in jail. “Why is the focus being shifted to the woman? The questions are about what happened in the SGPC sarai, who brought her there, why she was kept there and what the SGPC leadership knew about it,” he said.
Baltej Pannu said, “The silence of senior Akali leaders is equally revealing. Why did Sukhbir Singh Badal and Harsimrat Kaur Badal refuse to answer questions and Bikram Singh Majithia, who holds several press conferences on political issues, was also silent on this matter.”
“Harsimrat Kaur Badal gathers women when it suits her political propaganda, but when the matter concerns a woman who is raising serious allegations, Harsimrat Kaur Badal has nothing to say. Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia are also running away from questions. They are issuing videos instead of facing the media,” Baltej Pannu said.
Why are Congress and BJP being silent?
Baltej Pannu said the Congress and BJP were also maintaining a conspicuous silence. “I watch the debates on this issue. BJP spokespersons are not even coming forward to speak on it. Congress leaders Partap Bajwa and Raja Warring are also silent. Leaders who have plenty to say on every political issue have suddenly disappeared when questions are being asked about this matter,” he said.
Taking aim at the Badal family’s control over Sikh institutions, Baltej Pannu said the condition of the SGPC under Sukhbir Singh Badal’s leadership was before everyone. Baltej Pannu said Sukhbir Singh Badal was the “chief custodian” of the Akali Dal while Harjinder Singh Dhami was responsible for the SGPC, and questioned why neither Sukhbir Singh Badal nor Harjinder Singh Dhami was giving satisfactory answers to the Sikh sangat.
Baltej Pannu also questioned the circumstances surrounding the SGPC elections and the role of political interests in the matter. Referring to one of the members of the four-member committee, he asked whether the person was the same individual who had approached the High Court in connection with the SGPC elections and whose petition had stopped the elections.
Baltej Pannu said the person was also a member elected to the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and questioned whether such issues should be ignored while constituting a committee to examine the present controversy.
Baltej Pannu said the Badal leadership wanted to prevent SGPC elections and questioned the BJP’s silence in this context. Baltej Pannu said the alleged political understanding between the Badals and the BJP could not be separated from the larger question of control over Sikh institutions.
Baltej Pannu said SGPC members had a responsibility to speak up instead of remaining silent. Baltej Pannu said Sikh intellectuals and different Sikh organisations must continue asking questions because, according to Baltej Pannu, the controversy had caused serious damage to the image and credibility of Sikh institutions. “These are our high and revered institutions. What has happened has caused them immense damage. The question is why an attempt is now being made to suppress the matter instead of giving clear answers to the Sikh sangat,” he said.
