Badals’ control over SGPC absolute: MP

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 9

A series of “akhand paths” have been registered in the name of SAD top brass at Gurdwara Baba Gurbax Singh, located adjacent to Akal Takht, till 2022, claim sources.

Declining the request of a local resident to hold a path at the shrine, an SGPC official maintained: “The question of anybody jumping the queue does not arise.”

Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, rebel Khadoor Sahib MP, who has been expelled by the Shiromani Akali Dal, alleged that the Badals enjoyed absolute control over the SGPC and conducted its affairs at their whims and fancy.

“We will do whatever it takes to rid the SGPC of the Badals in the coming elections and implement SAD policies as enshrined in the party’s constitution. We are sure of a victory,” he said.

Appealing to the people to join the crusade, the veteran leader said a new Akali Dal would be launched at Akal Takht on December 16.

Meanwhile, “madh di ardas” was performed by the SAD leaders at Gurdwara Baba Gurbax Singh on Sunday.

The Badal family performed sewa for over an hour at the Joda Ghar and the langar hall at the Golden Temple complex. Accompanied by SGPCpresident Gobind Singh Longowal, SAD general secretary and former minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia, the Badals listened to the ‘kirtan’.

The bhog is to be performed on Monday.

With the Bargari protest coming to an end, parallel jathedars, appointed by the controversial 2015 Sarbat Khalsa at Chabba village near Amritsar, are also expected to reach Akal Takht on December 11.

Confirming this, Jarnail Singh Sakhira, one of the main organisers of Sarbat Khalsa, said acting parallel Akal Takht Jathedar Dhian Singh Mand and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib parallel Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal would lead a delegation to Akal Takht for “shukrana ardas” on Monday.