Amritsar: Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday responded to criticism from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the case of 328 missing saroops of Guru Granth Sahib, asserting that the SGPC had taken firm action and that its decisions had been upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Addressing a press conference in Amritsar, Dhami said the SGPC had dismissed 16 employees after an internal inquiry into the matter. He added that the High Court had agreed with the committee’s action while hearing petitions filed by 12 of the dismissed employees, thereby endorsing the SGPC’s stand.
Dhami also responded to questions regarding his political role, stating that while the remarks were being sought from him as a spokesperson of the Shiromani Akali Dal, he did not shy away from acknowledging his political affiliation. He said he is a member of the Akali Dal and had become an SGPC member and later its president on the party’s ticket.
He further cited High Court orders in a related case filed by the Sikh Sadbhavna Dal to underline that judicial scrutiny had supported the SGPC’s actions. Dhami maintained that the committee had acted responsibly and within the framework of law, rejecting allegations of inaction or negligence in the sensitive religious matter.
