Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab state media in-charge Baltej Pannu on Friday questioned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leadership over their alleged silence on the case involving a woman from Bahrain at sarais in Sri Anandpur Sahib and Amritsar.
Addressing a press conference, Pannu asked why the complete facts of the case were allegedly not being disclosed to Punjabis living in India and abroad. He questioned the SGPC leadership over what he described as several unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Pannu alleged that the matter involved not only financial irregularities but also the collection of money from various party functionaries. He questioned SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami over the alleged money trail, asking how much money was transferred, where it came from, who received it and whether there was a proper account of the transactions.
Referring to an audio clip involving senior Akali leader Virsa Singh Valtoha and the woman who lodged the complaint, Pannu claimed that the conversation raised several serious questions. He also referred to allegations against SGPC member and Akali Dal senior vice-president Amarjit Singh Chawla.
Pannu alleged that the woman was kept at a sarai for eight months and questioned how a single woman was allegedly allowed to stay there for such a prolonged period. He asked whether such an arrangement was permissible under SGPC rules.
Targeting Valtoha, Pannu questioned the alleged attempts by some leaders to raise questions about the woman's character. He asked why the woman was brought and kept there if the people concerned were allegedly aware of the circumstances surrounding her case.
Pannu also questioned the circumstances under which a person identified as Jhinjar allegedly received a ticket and asked whose instructions were followed in the matter.
Criticising the inquiry committee constituted by Dhami, Pannu described it as a "committee of juniors" and questioned whether its members would be able to effectively question senior leaders and others named in the allegations.
He also questioned the demand for a CBI probe instead of cooperation with the Punjab Police investigation. Pannu asked why the matter was not entrusted to a former Sikh judge or a former Sikh IPS officer if an independent inquiry was required.
Pannu further targeted SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, describing him as the "chief custodian" of the SGPC. He said the issue would not disappear by waiting for a few days and alleged that attempts to suppress the matter would not resolve the questions being raised.
He said Sikh intellectuals and young members of the community across the world were seeking answers from the SGPC and Akali leadership.
Pannu also warned Dhami that questions would continue to be raised about the functioning of the institution. He said the SGPC leadership would have to respond to questions surrounding what allegedly happened to the woman during her reported eight-month stay at the sarai.
The allegations made by Pannu could not be independently verified. The individuals and organisations named in his remarks would have an opportunity to respond to the allegations and present their version of the matter.
