Amritsar: In an unprecedented move, the executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday issued a 72-hour notice to former Akal Takht Jathedar and current head granthi of the Golden Temple, Giani Raghbir Singh, directing him to produce evidence supporting his recent allegations against the SGPC. Simultaneously, the committee also asked another former Akal Takht Jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh, to tender a public apology for levelling what it called “baseless and defamatory” accusations, failing which he will face a defamation case.Talking to reporters after chairing the executive committee meeting here on Thursday, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the executive committee issued a 72-hour notice to Raghbir Singh, directing him to produce written evidence supporting the allegations he levelled during a Jalandhar press conference, warning that failure to do so will result in action.Notably, Giani Raghbir Singh raised serious questions about the functioning of the SGPC and alleged that SGPC lands were being sold arbitrarily, and that the possibility of corruption in these deals could not be ruled out. He also made other allegations, including the removal of Giani Harpreet Singh, irregularities in selling dry rotis from langar, and demanded a fair probe into the disappearance of 328 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib. He also sought to convene a Sarbat Khalsa.Simultaneously, the executive body of the SGPC demanded a public apology from Giani Harpreet Singh for what it termed “baseless and defamatory” accusations regarding alleged irregularities in land deals of Gurdwara Amb Sahib (Mohali) and Gurdwara Bhattha Sahib (Ropar), cautioning that he will otherwise face a defamation suit.Dismissing both sets of allegations as unfounded, Dhami said Raghbir Singh maligned the institution without evidence, while Harpreet Singh attempted to mislead the sangat. He also confirmed that the probe into fraudulent land transactions involving the manager of Gurdwara Amb Sahib is underway, and that no person involved — officer, employee, or outsider — will be spared.Dhami further said future cases of employee misconduct will not be pardoned, and condemned the recent attack on a Sikh in Australia, urging the Govt of India to raise the matter diplomatically.
