Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu on Wednesday demanded that Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami face the media and answer questions being raised by the Sikh Sangat regarding a woman’s stay at an SGPC-run sarai and an FIR registered in connection with the matter.
Addressing a press conference, Pannu questioned the continued silence of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia, as well as Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and BJP representatives.
“While these leaders remain active in rallies and political programs, they have not come forward to answer questions being raised about the FIR and the woman’s stay in an SGPC-run sarai,” Pannu said.
He also questioned why opposition leaders were not participating in television debates on the issue. According to Pannu, if they believe they have answers to the questions being raised across Punjab, they should address them publicly.
The AAP leader particularly targeted SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, stating that he appeared after nearly a month but chose to issue a video statement rather than directly face journalists.
“The Sikh Sangat and people across Punjab deserve answers. Harjinder Singh Dhami should come before the media and respond to the questions being raised instead of relying on video statements,” Pannu said.
Referring to the FIR, Pannu claimed that Akali Dal (Badal) leader Amarjit Singh Chawla had been named as an accused in the case. He said the public wanted to know how a woman allegedly stayed in an SGPC-run sarai for more than six months, who arranged her accommodation, and how facilities were provided to her.
“These questions cannot be brushed aside. The SGPC administration must explain how such a situation continued for months and who was responsible for facilitating it,” he said.
Pannu also called on Dhami to disclose how many gurdwaras under SGPC management had displayed notices related to excommunicated individuals and to answer questions surrounding the incident at the sarai in Sri Anandpur Sahib.
He further alleged that previous concerns regarding alleged irregularities within the SGPC had not been adequately addressed. The latest controversy, he said, had raised fresh questions about the functioning of the SGPC-run sarai and the role of those responsible for managing it.
Commenting on the aftermath of the FIR, Pannu criticized certain Akali Dal leaders for making personal remarks about the woman involved. He said the focus should remain on establishing facts through the ongoing investigation rather than targeting any individual.
Pannu also noted that the woman had reportedly handed over her mobile phone to investigators and asked police to examine any chats, photographs or other material relevant to the case.
Concluding his remarks, the AAP leader said the Sikh Sangat and the people of Punjab deserved transparency and clear answers regarding who arranged the woman’s stay, who provided the facilities and what role various individuals may have played in the matter.
