Chandigarh, August 5
Today is one of the saddest and darkest days in the history of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. What transpired inside the Assembly today has deeply hurt every Sikh and directly wounded the sentiments of the Sikh community. These views were expressed by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
Majithia said the Speaker of the Punjab Assembly was no longer strong but had become helpless and had bowed before “Guru Dokhi” Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal merely to save his chair. He alleged that history records the name of Giani Zail Singh in its dark pages for having silently consented to the attack on Sri Darbar Sahib. According to him, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has now repeated that history by getting the name of Sri Akal Takht Sahib expunged from the proceedings of the Punjab Legislative Assembly.
Majithia said that a few days ago, all members of the Punjab Legislative Assembly had paid obeisance at Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Sri Harmandir Sahib and had offered prayers before the Guru. Before the entire congregation, they had publicly pledged that the amendments suggested by Sri Akal Takht Sahib to the proposed new Act relating to Sri Guru Granth Sahib would be incorporated under all circumstances. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was also a witness to that pledge. Amid the resounding slogans of Jaikara raised five times, all MLAs had given their word. The Singh Sahib Jathedar had also clearly directed that the issue should be raised in the Assembly with complete seriousness.
Majithia said that today, when Ganieve Kaur, MLA from Majitha, merely repeated what all the legislators had agreed upon at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the Speaker had her remarks expunged from the record and even switched off her microphone. She had only reminded the House of what they had committed before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and pointed out that there was no discussion on the Bill. She had also urged other MLAs who had visited Sri Akal Takht Sahib to speak on the issue, but everyone inside the Assembly remained silent and sided with what he described as “Guru Dhokhi.” He questioned what was objectionable in Majithia’s statement, particularly the part concerning the dignity and sanctity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, that it had to be deleted from the Assembly record.
Majithia said that offering prayers at Sri Akal Takht Sahib, pledging to accept its suggested amendments and then reneging on that promise upon entering the Assembly, even to the extent of expunging the words spoken in support of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, was not merely a sign of double standards but an insult to the sentiments of the entire Sikh Panth. He termed it a direct betrayal of the Panth.
Majithia further said that he had a direct question for Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and the AAP government: What is greater for you, the Chair or Sri Akal Takht Sahib? If the pledge made before Sri Akal Takht Sahib was genuine, why did you back out today? And if today’s stand is the correct one, why was that promise made before the congregation? He alleged that the government’s priority was not the Guru’s command but pleasing “Guru Dhokhi” Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal. He further alleged that the desire to protect the Chief Minister’s chair had compelled them to abandon their own commitment.
Majthia said Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme institution of the Sikh Panth. It is the great seat established by Sahib Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib, the embodiment of Miri Piri, and no institution, office or political chair can be above its dignity. He said the name of Sri Akal Takht Sahib might be expunged from the Assembly proceedings, but its place in the hearts of Sikhs could never be erased. The Assembly functions by the blessings of the Guru, whereas the Guru’s authority is not dependent on any legislature, he added.
Majithia said the action of Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan revived memories of the controversial decisions associated with Giani Zail Singh. Just as Giani Zail Singh later had to answer before the Panth for his actions, Speaker Sandhwan too had, by expunging the name of Sri Akal Takht Sahib from the Assembly proceedings, entered the dark pages of history. History, he said, would never forgive this decision. He also said it was extremely shameful that even a woman MLA had not been treated with respect in the Assembly. Bibi Ganieve Kaur had said nothing wrong or objectionable. She had merely explained the meaning of Sangat. According to her, Sangat is one that sits at the Guru’s feet, meditates on the Divine Name, listens to Kirtan and serves Langar. A person who consumes alcohol, visits the Guru’s house and disrespects Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji cannot be called part of the Sangat. He alleged that by siding with what he described as a “Guru Dhokhi” mindset, the AAP government had exposed its true face before the people of Punjab.
Majithia said he strongly condemned the removal of the name of the supreme institution of the Sikh community from the Assembly proceedings while discussions were being held on amendments relating to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He alleged that those who had practised politics for years in the name of the Bargari and Behbal Kalan sacrilege incidents had today exposed their true face before the people of Punjab.
Majithia demanded that Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan immediately restore the expunged remarks to the Assembly record, apologise to Sri Akal Takht Sahib for his action and respect the sentiments of the Sikh Panth. If this was not done, he warned, the day was not far when the people of Punjab would also hold him accountable before history, just as they continue to seek answers from Giani Zail Singh.
Majithia said the Shiromani Akali Dal would strongly oppose what it described as this anti Panth action through every democratic and constitutional means. He said the battle would be fought from the Assembly to the streets, and from the Sikh congregation to the heart of every Punjabi.