Don’t meet BhagwantMann over Sikh prisoners’ issue: Akal Takht jathedar to SGPC member

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj cited the Akal Takht’s earlier description of Bhagwant Mann as “anti-Guru” and “anti-Panth”.

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has directed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Karnail Singh Panjoli to refrain from meeting Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann over the issue of release of Sikh prisoners, citing the highest Sikh temporal seat’s declaration describing Mann as “anti-Guru” and “anti-Panth”.

Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj issued the direction in response to Panjoli’s request to attend the meeting. (HT)

The direction came in response to Panjoli’s letter in which he sought permission to attend the October 12 meeting called by the CM at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh, with Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, which has been spearheading a sit-in for the release of Sikh prisoners on the Chandigarh-Mohali border since January 2023.

As a member and representative of the SGPC, a Sikh religious institution, it was his primary responsibility to comply with the directives of Akal Takht and uphold them, said Gargaj in the response.

Akal Takht spokesperson alleged that the Punjab government had taken no steps on the issue during its nearly five-year tenure and was now attempting to gain political mileage by offering assurances to Sikhs ahead of the assembly elections.