SGPC official: Majithia aide recommended Bala’s name in jatha

YOUTH AKALI DAL MAJHA ZONE GENERAL SECY, TALBIR SINGH GILL, DENIES CLAIM; HE IS POLITICAL SECY TO THE FORMER MINISTER

AMRITSAR: Three weeks after a woman pilgrim, Kiran Bala, from Hoshiarpur district converted to Islam and married a Lahorebased Pakistani national, after entering that country as part of an SGPC jatha, it has emerged that a Youth Akali Dal leader, Talbir Singh Gill, recommended the inclusion of her name in the pilgrim party. Gill is political secretary to former minister Bikram Singh Majithia and is also the general secretary, Majha zone, of the YAD.

The SGPC panel comprising advocate Bhagwant Singh Sialka, Ravinder Singh Chak, Gurtej Singh Dhade and Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan has authenticated a note from a Golden Temple manager, Sulakhan Singh, that takes Gill’s name.

As per the recommendation note, a copy of which is available with HT, Sulakhan states, “Sardar Talbir Singh Gill has recommended this name to be added to the Sikh Jatha.”

He wrote this note on a photocopy copy of Bala’s Aadhaar card on January 23 this year. Signed by the manager, the note has been numbered 192 by the pilgrimage department of the SGPC for office record.

The SGPC is chief organisation that send names, passports and other required documents of Sikh pilgrims to the government for getting pilgrimage visas. It is also mandatory that all visa applicants be recommended by SGPC members; even SGPC officials can make the recommendation, though usually it is the members who do it.

Sulakhan refused to speak to HT, claiming that the SGPC probe panel was yet to finish its probe into the matter. Sources said Kiran had also spent a night at the Golden Temple serai a day before she left for Pakistan and another SGPC junior official was seen facilitating her.