SGPC distances itself from statue row, advises talks

AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has distanced itself from the row over statues on the Heritage Street with its president Gobind Singh Longowal saying the issue should be sorted out through talks.

“This issue needs to be resolved through talks. Sikh organisations protesting against the statues must understand it,” Longowal said at a function in Sangur district.

Police had arrested eight persons for vandalising the statues on January 15. They were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 307 (attempt to murder) and under section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act.

Various Sikh organisations, Including the Akal Takht (the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs), came in support of removing the statues.

A senior SGPC office-bearer said the statues or heritage street do not come under the jurisdiction of the SGPC.

Senior vice-president Rajinder Singh Mehta said booking those who vandalised the statues for attempt to murder was unfair.

The SGPC has been silent on this issue of the statues which were erected during the previous SAD-BJP government.

DHADIS, KAVISHARS STAGE PROTEST

Members of Sikh organisations and ‘hazoori ragis (regular Gurbani exponents) of Golden Temple expressed solidarity with the demand for removing the statues. Dhadis and kavishars (traditional Sikh preachers) took to the stareet on Tuesday, seeking removal of the statues.

After holding a demonstration on the Heritage Street, they also met Amritsar deputy commissioner Shivdular Singh Dhillon. They told the DC that the statues of the folk dancers must be replaced with that of Sikh warriors.