Rebel Akali leader and former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur has expressed disapproval of the statement made by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Behbal Kalan police firing incident. This marks the second instance of a leader from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) publicly opposing the former jathedar’s decision to depose before the SIT.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Jagir Kaur claimed the former jathedar was acting under the influence of others. Earlier, Giani Harpreet Singh, president of SAD (Punar Surjit) and one of the five Sikh high priests at the time of a religious punishment being meted out to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, had stated that recording such statements was inappropriate. He argued that the proceedings were part of religious code and principles, conducted at the Akal Takht, and therefore could not be used as evidence.
Jagir Kaur further questioned the necessity of Giani Raghbir Singh appearing before the SIT, pointing out that the events of December 2, 2024, were already in the public domain and extensively covered by both print and electronic media. She asserted that a priest has an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of information shared by a disciple, and by appearing before the SIT, Giani Raghbir Singh had acted in disobedience. She left the matter of further action to the supreme temporal body of the Sikhs.
The incident of December 2, 2024, involved the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, pronouncing ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) for the former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The punishment was delivered from the ‘faseel’ or podium of the Akal Takht.
According to reports, Giani Raghbir Singh stated to the SIT that Sukhbir Singh Badal had admitted responsibility for the Behbal Kalan firing during the aforementioned proceedings. This statement has drawn significant criticism from within Akali circles.
Leaders of the SAD have urged the current Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, to carefully consider the matter and initiate appropriate action against Giani Raghbir Singh for allegedly violating Sikh ‘maryada’ (code of conduct). They have condemned his actions for using the proceedings of the highest temporal seat in court-related cases, which they deem a breach of the Takht’s ‘hukamnama’ (edict).
The Behbal Kalan police firing incident, which occurred in October 2015, involved the death of two Sikh protestors who were demonstrating against alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib. The incident has been a subject of extensive investigation and public scrutiny in Punjab.
The involvement of former religious authorities in the ongoing investigations raises complex questions regarding the separation of religious and legal proceedings and the adherence to Sikh traditions and protocols. The statements made by Jagir Kaur and Harpreet Singh highlight internal divisions within certain Akali factions regarding the handling of sensitive religious and political matters.
The SIT is continuing its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Behbal Kalan firing, aiming to establish accountability. The focus on the statements of former religious leaders underscores the intricate interplay between faith, politics, and justice in the region.
The Chenab Times News Desk