Akal Takht Jathedar’s security downgraded, later restored
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government on Saturday downgraded the security cover granted to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh but restored it hours later amid a controversy. Singh, however, refused to take it back, saying that “Khalsa Panth and our Sikh youth are enough to provide security”.
The controversy erupted after the Punjab Police withdrew the security of 424 people, including the Akal Takht Jathedar who recently advised Sikhs to keep licensed weapons as “circumstances were such”, drawing criticism from chief minister Bhagwant Mann.
The Punjab Police withdrew three of the six personnel deployed as part of Jathedar’s security cover.
In a video message on Saturday, the Jathedar said: “I have been told by security men that they have been called back. It does not matter.” He said the remaining security men should also be taken back. “I do not need security, especially from the Punjab government. Khalsa Panth and our Sikh youth are enough to provide security.”
Six personnel — three each from Bathinda police and the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) — were deployed by the Punjab government in the security detail of the Jathedar. The Punjab Police, through the order issued on Saturday morning, withdrew its three personnel.
Later, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), an apex gurdwara body, said the state government restored the security of the Akal Takht Jathedar but he refused to take it back.
“@Punjabgovtindia restore security but Singh Sahib refuses to take it,” said the SGPC in a tweet.
According to a senior police officer posted in the security wing, the Jathedar’s security was withdrawn temporarily but was immediately restored. “We have sent the security back. We have no info if Jathedar ji has denied accepting the security back,” said the officer.
Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal hit out at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party over the move. “With its decision & flip-flop on the withdrawal of official security to the highly respected Jathedar Sahiban of Khalsa Panth’s venerated Takhts, including Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the AAP government has merely exposed itself as a stooge of anti-punjab & anti-panth Arvind Kejriwal,” tweeted Badal, adding that the “sordid drama” has exposed AAP’S “hatred and disrespect” for Sikh institutions.
As per the order issued on Friday, the security of Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib district; Sant Niranjan Dass, chief of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar; Satguru Udhay Singh Namdhari, Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana; Giani Jagtar Singh, head granthi at Golden Temple in Amritsar; Baba Lakha Singh, Gurdwara Nanaksar Kaleran wale, Jagraon; and Sant Tarminder Singh, Dera chief of Kahna Dhesian, Goraya in Jalandhar has also been withdrawn.
Earlier in April, the Punjab government had ordered the withdrawal of security cover of 184 people, including former ministers and ex-mlas.