The North News
Chandigarh, March 8
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership of exacting revenge by unceremoniously removing Jathedars, describing the move as an unwarranted intrusion of politics into religious affairs. Mann criticized the Akali leadership for what he called “theatrics” after they publicly apologized for their past “sins” at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He said the removal of the Jathedar came as retaliation after the Akali leadership was pronounced guilty of “unpardonable sins” by the religious authorities.
“This trend of picking and removing the Jathedar Sahib from the pocket of these ‘rejected leaders’ is a sorry state of affairs,” Mann said, adding that the decision had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the interim committee behind the Jathedar’s removal had overstayed its legitimacy, as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections had not been conducted for a decade. Mann urged the Government of India to hold elections promptly to free Punjab’s Gurdwaras from what he called “modern-day Mahants.”
