INDIA: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann lashed out at Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh for creating hurdles in the way of the state government and creating pressure through an ultimatum to the AAP government seeking the instant release of all Sikh youths.
The young Sikhs were arrested by police on their way to apprehend radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his aides.
Amritpal Singh, a pro-Khalistani leader, has disguised himself and is evading the Punjab police. However, on Sunday, 353 people were placed into preventive custody on suspicion of violating the peace and upsetting the balance of justice.
Among them, 197 individuals have been freed after being found innocent. The Punjab Chief Minister asserted that Jathedar holds the greatest temporal position among Sikhs and that it would have been preferable if he had delivered the ultimatum for the sacrilege and missing “saroops” of the Guru Granth Sahib. Also, he had the ability to pursue the man who was currently wanted for questioning.
Amidst the ultimatum issued by Akal Takht’s leader, Bhagwant Mann opted to his Twitter handle and wrote, “Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib ji. Everyone knows you and SGPC have been favouring the Badals. Look at the history: many Jathedars were used by the Badals for their own interests. It would have been better had you given the ultimatum for the sacrilege and missing ‘saroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji instead of provoking happily living people.”
The incident says that “the theft of a ‘bir’ (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib, putting up handwritten sacrilegious posters, and seeing torn pages of the holy book scattered at Bargari had taken place in Faridkot in 2015.”
Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh responded to Mann by saying, “First, let’s save Punjab together and unite the mothers waiting for their innocent sons who have been put in jail and get their blessings.”
Also Read: Akal Takht Gives Ultimatum to Punjab Police to Release Arrested Youths in 24 Hrs
