SGPC manager not letting me rejoin, says rebel Sikh priest
AMRITSAR: Balbir Singh, former ‘ardasia’, who faced action for denying ‘siropa’ to the then Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal at Golden Temple last year, has alleged that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) manager of the shrine is not allowing him to rejoin the duty.
The SGPC had transferred Balbir to a Sikh shrine at Machhiwara after he had refused to honour Badal with a ‘siropa’ during the latter’s visit on June 3, 2016, in protest against the previous SAD-BJP government’s failure to curb the instances of desecration of Guru Granth Sahib.
But Balbir never joined his new assignment. After Kirpal Singh Badungar became the SGPC chief in November last year, he was reinstated in his position as ardasia at the Golden temple.
Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Balbir alleged that he was not allowed to rejoin his duty so far. He was accompanied by Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) president Paramjit Singh Sarna .
“A probe panel led by former chief secretary Harcharan Singh was constituted by the SGPC to investigate the matter related to me and the panel found me innocent. The SGPC president on September 9 ordered met ore join duty”, he said.
“However, Golden Temple manager Sula khan Singh did not allow me to rejoin duty challenging orders of the president.” he said, alleging that the manager is close to a former influential Akali minister and doing so on his directions.
THREATENS TO MOVE HC
Balbir also threatened to move the Punjab and Haryana high court against the misconduct of the SGPC manager.
The Sikh priest, however, said Badungar is playing a positive role, but the manager is doing injustice with him.
Sulakhan was not available for his comments despite HT repeated phone calls.