SGPC chief dubs hardliners’ Bargari protest a political stunt

BATHINDA: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal on Monday dubbed the ongoing protest of parallel jathedars at Bargari a political stunt.

The parallel jathedars, heads of Sikh temporal seats appointed at a ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (congregation) held by hardliners in 2015, are demanding action in the sacrilege case as well into death of two protesters in alleged police firing at nearby Behbal Kalan village.

“This all is being done at the behest of Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) head Simranjit Singh Mann and others to give the issue a political colour,” the SGPC chief told the media here.

The SGPC president, flanked by ex-Akali minister Sikandar Singh Maluka and the local Akali leadership, said: “the SGPC is also waiting eagerly for the probe findings to come out.”

The protesters at Bargari have been on sit-in for nearly three weeks now, demanding that Justice Ranjit Singh Commission should submit its probe report.

Longowal was here to take up the matter of the SGPC land dispute with the Bathinda disrict administration, as he accused that certain persons wanted to grab 160 acres of the SGPC land in Bhai Rupa village.

This is being done at the behest of SAD (A) head Simranjit Singh Mann and others to give the issue a political colour. GS LONGOWAL, SGPC chief