Punjab Ministers Visit Shrine, Give Clean Chit in Missing Saroops Case
Punjab ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Harjot Singh Bains, along with Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang, visited the revered shrine at Rasokhana Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib in Majara Nau Abad, Nawanshahr district, on Monday. They gave the shrine a clean chit regarding the availability of 169 saroops of Guru Granth Sahib.
Ministers Find No Wrongdoing
The ministers and the MP visited the shrine in the evening. They paid obeisance and held a meeting with the shrine management. After the meeting, Harpal Singh Cheema addressed the media. He stated that nothing wrong was found regarding the 169 saroops.
Cheema said the issue of 328 missing saroops had caused widespread concern across Punjab. "During the investigation, information about the 169 saroops was provided. However, nothing wrong was found here. All records are correct. No case has been registered against the committee," he explained.
He added that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann would soon visit the shrine. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) would continue searching for the remaining saroops.
Background of the Controversy
This visit came five days after CM Bhagwant Mann made a significant claim. At the AAP's Maghi Mela conference in Muktsar on January 14, Mann announced that the SIT had located 169 of the 328 missing saroops at this very shrine.
The shrine management quickly countered the Chief Minister's statement the next day. They provided detailed records of the 169 saroops. The management asserted that none of these saroops belonged to the missing batch. They accused the CM of spreading false and misleading information.
Cheema addressed this discrepancy during his remarks. When asked whether the SIT had provided incorrect information, he described it as a "miscommunication." He emphasized that they had a detailed discussion with the shrine management to clarify the situation.
Political Developments
The visit occurred amidst political turmoil. Just one day earlier, Banga MLA Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi announced his resignation. He stepped down as chairman of the Punjab State Container & Warehousing Corporation (CONWARE). Sukhi also said he was giving up his cabinet rank amid the ongoing row.
Dr Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi had switched from the Shiromani Akali Dal to the Aam Aadmi Party in 2024. The shrine in question falls within his constituency, adding another layer to the political significance of this visit.
The ministers' clean chit aims to address public concerns. It seeks to clarify the status of the saroops and restore confidence in the investigation process.
