In a significant political and religious development, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira has called upon the acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh, to summon Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. The demand stems from Sandhwan's alleged failure to fulfill a public oath taken before the Guru Granth Sahib to ensure justice in the sensitive Bargari sacrilege and Behbal Kalan police firing cases.
A Solemn Oath and a Call for Accountability
Khaira brought attention to a video clip from a previous speech by Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. In the video, Sandhwan is seen making a solemn promise to deliver justice in these long-pending cases. He had publicly declared that if justice was not served, he would present himself before the eternal Guru, referring to it as his final "Sarkar" (authority). Khaira has labeled this unfulfilled promise as "a grave betrayal of faith, trust and justice by the AAP leadership in Punjab." He emphasized that making a false oath before the Guru is a matter of the highest religious seriousness and warrants immediate examination by the Akal Takht.
Furthermore, Khaira also urged the Jathedar to question Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his "continued and inexplicable silence and inaction" regarding these cases. He accused the AAP government of deliberately avoiding action despite what he claims is clear judicial evidence.
Judicial Admission and Government Inaction
Khaira pointed to a critical development in the sacrilege cases. He noted that Pradip Kler, a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda, had categorically admitted before a court that the sacrilegious acts against the Guru Granth Sahib were committed on the orders of Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. "Despite this judicial admission, the AAP government did not dare to question Ram Rahim even once," Khaira stated. He argued that this deliberate inaction raises serious questions about the intentions, integrity, and moral standing of the Mann-led government.
The Congress leader alleged that the conduct of both the Speaker and the Chief Minister has misled Sikhs worldwide, eroded faith in democratic and religious institutions, and constitutes a historic betrayal of promises made to the people of Punjab.
Challenges to AAP Leadership and Unanswered Questions
Expanding his critique, Khaira challenged AAP's national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, to explain his own pre-election promises. He reminded that during the 2022 Punjab Assembly election campaign, Kejriwal had guaranteed justice in the sacrilege cases within 24 hours of coming to power. "What does he have to say today, when even after years in power, justice remains elusive?" Khaira questioned.
He also demanded answers on other unresolved issues, notably the 2017 Maur bomb blast, for which AAP leaders had repeatedly promised justice to the victims' families but have, according to Khaira, failed to deliver any meaningful outcome.
Khaira concluded by stating that all these unanswered questions gain greater significance in light of Chief Minister Mann's recent actions and statements, which he claims appear to challenge the moral and supreme authority of the Akal Takht. He urged the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and other Sikh religious bodies to take note of the situation, warning that silence would only embolden forces that trivialize Sikh sentiments for political gain.
