Chandigarh | AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu on Thursday once again raised serious questions on the functioning of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and sought answers from SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and its “chief patron” Sukhbir Singh Badal on the Sri Anandpur Sahib Sarai issue. He questioned the explanations given by the SGPC president regarding the stay of the woman in the SGPC Sarai, payment of ₹1 lakh for treatment and irregularities in the register.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has constituted a three-member SIT to investigate the entire incident at Sri Anandpur Sahib. The SIT is headed by Punjab Police officer Gurbans Singh Bains, while Simranjit Singh Lang and Karan Singh Sandhu are its members. This investigation will resolve many questions that have remained unresolved till now.”
He further said, “The investigation will answer how the woman came from Bahrain, who arranged for her arrival and stay at the SGPC Sarai in Sri Anandpur Sahib, what arrangements and facilities were provided to her, who approved these facilities, and how she was allowed to stay there for months.”
AAP Punjab’s media in-charge claimed, “The Bhagwant Singh Mann government has now ordered an inquiry into the entire matter, which will answer many questions that were unresolved till now. The issue is not about defaming any organization. SGPC is a respectable organization, but if questions have been raised about its management and the incidents that took place at Sri Anandpur Sahib, then those questions should be answered. The government has now ordered a formal inquiry into the questions being raised by the public and various Sikh organizations.”
He elaborated, “Even after several days, the SGPC has not put up boards outside its gurdwaras regarding those expelled from the sect. If the SGPC says it is its duty to ensure that the message reaches everyone, then why have these boards not been put up in any SGPC-run gurdwara yet?” he asked.
Citing Harjinder Singh Dhami’s press conference, Baltej Pannu said, “The register shown by the SGPC president himself raises more questions. If you zoom in on the register, the room is clearly marked ‘Recommended by Amarjit Singh Chawla’ and ‘Free’. Then how can they claim that the room was booked for ₹1,000?”
Baltej Pannu said, “Harjinder Singh Dhami had earlier denied giving ₹1 lakh to the woman but later admitted in his press conference that this amount was given by the Dharam Artha Committee. The SGPC should disclose how many mentally ill patients have been given ₹1 lakh each for treatment during Harjinder Singh Dhami’s tenure and on whose recommendations these payments were made.”
He also questioned the application on the basis of which ₹1 lakh was sanctioned. Baltej Singh Pannu asked, “The application itself states that the woman was staying in the Sarai of Sri Anandpur Sahib for several months. Did no one notice that she was staying there for months? Once someone lies, he has to lie again and again to cover up the lie.”
Baltej Pannu questioned, “What is the rationale behind keeping a woman who was declared mentally ill in a hostel and giving her ₹1 lakh for treatment? Why was the cheque paid in Amritsar instead of Sri Anandpur Sahib? Where was the treatment going on and which doctors recommended it?”
The AAP Punjab media in-charge further asked, “When was the alleged tampering with the register actually discovered? Was the tampering discovered after the FIR was lodged, or at the time of the formation of the SGPC committee? If it was already known, why was it not brought up in the regular proceedings of the SGPC?”
Baltej Pannu further said, “SGPC is a respectable organization built on sacrifices. No one is questioning the organization. But if there are questions about its management, then every Guru Nanak Naam Leva has the right to ask these questions and today many Sikh organizations are questioning this development.”
They also raised questions over the suspension of driver Mohan Singh. Baltej Singh Pannu asked, “If, as per the SGPC president, no vehicle was given to the woman, then why was the driver suspended? If he was the driver, whose vehicle was he driving?”
Baltej Pannu said, “The statements of the persons named in the FIR and others connected with the case have raised more questions. Amarjit Singh Chawla had told in his interview that Virsa Singh Valtoha had asked the woman to stay in the inn. If so, how come he was denying for so long that she had stayed there for months?”
He also questioned the demand for a CBI investigation by Harjinder Singh Dhami, recalling the controversy over 328 missing saroops. Baltej Singh Pannu said, “During the controversy over 328 missing saroops, the SGPC had opposed the involvement of the CBI and said that it was capable of conducting its own investigation. On what basis are you now demanding a CBI investigation? The CBI had already submitted a closure report in the 2015 sacrilege case. Harjinder Singh Dhami should rectify his record before raising such demands.”
Baltej Pannu also challenged Harjinder Singh Dhami’s announcement of a five-hour press conference. He said, “If you are going to hold a five-hour press conference, at least invite the people who are raising these questions. We know you will not answer our questions. Invite the Sikhs who are asking five questions with you, especially the new generation members. I don’t think you will be able to face even their five questions.”
He added, “The younger generation will not accept explanations lightly. When the next generation searches these matters, these questions will come up again. You may escape us, but you will not be able to escape the questions of the next generation.”
Baltej Pannu said, “These questions are not an attempt to defame SGPC. SGPC is not being defamed. If there are questions on the management, then every person who follows the teachings of the Guru has the right to ask questions. Even the person who brings ₹10 from his pocket and offers it in the Gurdwara Sahib, he also has the right to ask how ₹1 lakh was given.”
AAP Punjab media in-charge appealed to Harjinder Singh Dhami and Sukhbir Badal to answer questions instead of avoiding them. Baltej Singh Pannu said, “Until answers are given, these questions will continue and get bigger.”
