Siropa row: SGPC chief seeks apology from Kejriwal, aides

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 16

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal’s visit to Darbar Sahib in Tarn Taran last evening mired into a controversy after one of his supporters presented him a ‘siropa’ (robe of honour).

SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar has demanded Kejriwal and his aides to tender an apology for violating the Sikh “maryada” (code of conduct).

Kejriwal and his supporters had gone to pay obeisance at Darbar Sahib at the culmination of the party’s “Ghar bachao” campaign conducted in the border belt of Amritsar and Tarn Taran yesterday.

Darbar Sahib manager Arjan Singh said neither of the SGPC staff members deputed in the shrine presented the “siropa” to Kejriwal. “The party volunteers must have got the siropa from the parikarma of the shrine and some unscrupulous elements tried to give it a political colour,” he said.

AAP volunteer Avtar Singh Deol, who accompanied Kejriwal to the sanctum sanctorum, said he knew that the Akali-influenced SGPC staff would avoid presenting the siropa to Kejriwal, so he had procured one from there and presented it to Kejriwal in the presence of holy Guru Granth Sahib.

“It was nothing but a politically motivated move. The ‘maryada’ is observed in gurdwaras as per the Akalis’ wish. I knew this, that’s why I volunteered to procure siropa from “Guru Ghar” priest by offering ‘bheta’ of Rs 100 and presented it to Kejriwal in the presence of Guru Granth Sahib. I never snatched or picked it in any unceremonious manner. The SGPC employees deputed over there were scared as it would have offended their political bosses. Was it justified to present siropa to CM Badal whose government failed to curb the sacrilege instances,” he said.

Terming it a blunder, Badungar said the “siropa” could not be presented until unless it was offered by the designated staff at the gurdwara.

“Siropa commands its significance and is presented only by the designated priest. Kejriwal and his supporters were liable to apologise publically for this blunder,” he said.

It has been learnt that the SGPC has procured the footage of the CCTV installed in the shrine.