Chandigarh, December 29: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday took a firm stand over the disappearance of 328 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, asserting that the culprits will not be spared. He also announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
Addressing a press conference, Mann criticised the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the Akali Dal, accusing them of shielding influential individuals and avoiding accountability. “The SGPC claims the state government is interfering in religious affairs, but they themselves had passed resolutions for criminal action against the accused and then withdrew them to protect powerful persons,” Mann said.
He added that despite resolutions for action against erring employees and publishers, including the termination of services of S.S. Kohli & Associates, no follow-up was taken. Mann said the state government is stepping in to ensure recovery of the saroops and prevent any further desecration.
The Chief Minister also cited the SGPC’s failure to act against political misuses, including a BJP cartoon post, and criticised the Akali Dal for prioritising personal gains over public and state interests. “For 14 years, elections to this esteemed body have not been held, and the psyche of every Sikh has been bruised due to the disappearance of these saroops,” he said.
Mann concluded that the Punjab government would leave no stone unturned to punish those responsible under the law, and urged the public to have faith in the SIT investigation.
