Blow to Ranjit panel, key witness retracts his statement on Badals

VOLTEFACE Report has raised questions on Badals’ role in Akal Takht’s pardon to Gurmeet Ram Rahim

CHANDIGARH : In a major embarrassment for the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission whose report on incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib during the previous SAD-BJP government in Punjab would be tabled during the Punjab Vidhan Sabha session starting from August 24, its key witness, Himmat Singh, has retracted from his statement to the commission against the then ruling Badal family.

Himmat is a former granthi of the Akal Takht and brother of former Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Gurmukh Singh.

On the basis of Himmat’s statement, the Badals have been nailed in the report and serious questions raised on their role in the Akal Takht’s 2015 pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a 2007 blasphemy case. The commission has said ‘the pardon played as a catalyst’ in sacrilege incidents.

“Punjab jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa pressured me to sign all documents submitted to Justice Ranjit Singh in his office on my name. On October 12, 2017, Randhawa called me to his Mohali residence. He talked to me for two hours. From there, two of his close associates brought me to the commission’s office.” Himmat told mediapersons in Chandigarh on Monday.

He alleged, “Justice Ranjit Singh asked me to do sign on two places in the file on my statement that was already lying on his table. He kept asking me if I would stick to my stand. He said that the only motive of the commission was to finish the Akalis and in this even the AAP is with them as Sukhpal Khaira is his brother-inlaw.”

Justice Ranjit Singh asked me to sign at two places in the file that was already lying on his table. He kept asking me if I will stick to my stand. HIMMAT SINGH, key witness

He is also in possession of pictures of his meetings with Randhawa and Justice Ranjit.

“The minister again pressured me to meet in June, but I went underground. An independent agency can check Randhawa used to call me on this,” he said.

“While signing the document, I thought that the commission would bring justice to the Sikh community, whose feelings have been hurt at the sacrilege incidents. Later, when I read in newspapers that my statements were being used as a base to settle political scores, I decided to speak up against the commission.”

Randhawa admitted to have met Himmat through a leader from Gurdaspur. Interestingly, a month after the probe panel submitted its report to the government, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) brought back Gurmukh as head granthi at the Akal Takht.