Make Zora panel report public: SGPC to Capt govt

Questions Cong govt’s move to reject SADBJP panel and set up Ranjit Singh Commission

AMRITSAR: A week after it refused to share any information with Justice Ranjit Singh commission constituted by the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government to probe into sacrilege cases, the SGPC on Saturday asked the government to disclose the report of the Justice Zora Singh Commission.

AMRITSAR: A week after it refused to share any information with Justice Ranjit Singh commission constituted by the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Punjab government to probe into sacrilege cases, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Saturday asked the government to disclose the report of the Justice Zora Singh Commission.

The Zora commission was constituted by the previous Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) government to look into desecration cases.

The Captain government set up the Ranjit panel — a poll promise — after assuming power in March this year.

“The Zora panel has already submitted its report. However, the Congress rejected it and set up its own panel. This raises many questions”, said SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, who was here to attend Guru Ram Das birth anniversary celebrations.

The SGPC chief’s latest statement can be seen as his move to counter the Congress govern- ment.

The Ranjit Singh panel has summoned Badungar before the Akal Takht on October 9 with record of pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, stating that these details were necessary for investigation into sacrilege cases.

The SGPC executive committee has already rejected the move saying the Congress government was challenging Sikh institutions.

“A commission comprising any judge conducts an impartial investigation, but setting up of a new panel has raised doubts regarding fair probe. The Congress government should first disclose the report of Zora Singh commission”, he added.

“No doubt, the sacrilege incidents were unfortunate and those behind it should be brought to the book, but the Centre and the state government need strengthen their intelligence network to stop such acts in the future,” he said.