Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a sharp attack on the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday, accusing them of evading accountability in the sensitive case of 328 missing saroops (sacred copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib. Mann alleged that these institutions were using the Akal Takht and the wider Sikh community (Panth) as a shield to protect themselves from serious allegations of wrongdoing.
Government Action Meets Allegations of Interference
Defending his government's decision to file a First Information Report (FIR) and constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT), Mann stated that the SGPC had failed in its fundamental duty to locate the missing saroops. He expressed deep anguish over the fact that no concrete action had been taken since the saroops were reportedly stolen, an event that has bruised the psyche of the Sikh community worldwide.
"The Punjab government will ensure that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are punished as per the law," Mann asserted. He called upon the SGPC to provide all relevant records and cooperate fully with the investigation to ensure justice is delivered.
SGPC's U-Turn and Allegations of Corruption
Mann's statement came a day after the acting jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, asked the state government to refrain from interfering in Sikh religious affairs. The Chief Minister countered this by revealing that Panthic organisations and the Sant Samaj had themselves approached the state government demanding action. He framed the filing of the FIR as a moral responsibility of his administration.
However, Mann alleged that soon after the FIR was lodged, the SGPC, on the "directions of its masters," began refuting the charges and accused the government of religious interference. He claimed the SGPC was acting hastily to protect affluent individuals close to its leadership.
The CM cited serious financial irregularities within the SGPC, noting that its own chief had admitted to 10-12 scams occurring daily within the committee. He highlighted the misuse of 'golak' money (devotional offerings) and pointed to a resolution passed by the SGPC's interim committee in 2020. This resolution called for severe action against erring employees and publishers involved in the same case of the missing saroops.
Political Motives and a Jab at SAD-BJP Ties
Mann expressed surprise that despite identifying several irregularities and even passing a resolution for criminal action against individuals like former chief secretary Roop Singh, the SGPC took no concrete steps. He further claimed that action against a chartered accountant firm was stalled because the firm also served Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal.
In a direct political broadside, Mann questioned why the SAD had not raised the issue of delayed SGPC elections with the BJP-led central government for the past 14 years. He suggested the Akalis were hoping for a future alliance with the BJP, pointing out that the SGPC took no action when the BJP's official page once posted a cartoon of the Sikh Gurus.
Repeating his familiar "dinosaur" jibe, Mann said the SAD, once known as the party of lions since its formation in 1920, had been transformed by its current leaders into a party of dinosaurs. He accused the Akali leadership of being power-hungry and reluctant to raise Punjab's issues with the Centre, in stark contrast to his own government's efforts.
