SGPC's weak President is himself inviting government interference in the institution by seeking a CBI probe : Dhandra, Kandhola.

SGPC's weak President is himself inviting government interference in the institution by seeking a CBI probe : Dhandra, Kandhola.

Chandigarh 1 October ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : Bharpur Singh Dhandra and Harbans Singh Kandhola, General Secretaries of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), alleged in a joint statement that the weak President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) is demanding a CBI inquiry into the exploitation incident at Sri Anandpur Sahib merely to mask his own incompetence. The two leaders pointed out that when the government had initiated an investigation—registering an FIR in response to the Sangat's demand regarding the misappropriation of 328 *Saroops* (copies of the Guru Granth Sahib)—this very President had orchestrated an order from the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib directing that no cooperation be extended to the government, thereby creating a confrontation between the religious authority and the state. With what moral standing, then, is he now demanding a CBI probe into the events at Anandpur Sahib? Wouldn't this amount to government interference in Gurdwara management? Perhaps the President is making this demand because he was influenced by the decision taken by the Badal government regarding the 2015 sacrilege case; at that time, the matter was handed over to the CBI, which eventually filed a closure report in court citing a lack of evidence. 

In their statement, both leaders further asked what hidden aspect of this case necessitated a CBI investigation. It is crystal clear that the administrators of the *Guru Ghar* (Gurdwara) acted as conspirators and displayed deplorable conduct. If the President is genuinely sincere about bringing the truth to light, he should constitute a three-member committee—led by Bibi Kiranjot Kaur—to investigate within two days why the woman, whose questionable character is being highlighted by the entire Badal Dal, was provided with a room in the VIP *Sarai* (guest house), a vehicle with a driver, and funds from the *Dharam Parchar* (religious propagation) budget. The President himself is well aware of how difficult it is to uncover this truth, given that the sum of one lakh could not have been disbursed without his approval. That is precisely why he had opposition members barred via Sri Akal Takht Sahib and excluded from the executive meeting—to ensure no questions could be raised. Advising him, both leaders remarked, "Mr. Dhami, the entire matter is public knowledge; you cannot simply patch over such a massive blunder. You should resign and go home, just as you did when you dismantled the recruitment committee—for the *Sangat* (congregation), having seen through your duplicity, has now reached your very doorstep."