Amritsar— Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has strongly condemned Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his recent remarks regarding donations in gurdwara Golaks, warning him not to make statements that hurt Sikh sentiments.
The Jathedar was responding to Mann’s alleged comment that “if money from the Golaks stops coming, 95% of the Akali Dal will vanish.” Gargaj called the remark deeply offensive, saying it disrespects the devotion and faith of the Sikh community. “The Sikh Sangat offers to the Golak out of love and reverence. If the Chief Minister has an issue with it, he should refrain from playing with the community’s emotions,” he stated.
Emphasizing the sacred role of Golak contributions, the Jathedar noted that funds from these donations are regularly used for humanitarian efforts. He highlighted the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) relief work during the recent Punjab floods, where aid was extended to thousands of affected families using Golak funds. “This very Golak money becomes the first to serve humanity in times of disaster,” he said, underscoring the spiritual and social significance of these offerings.
The Jathedar also reaffirmed the Shiromani Akali Dal’s historic role in protecting Sikh values. “Once again, it has been proven which Akali Dal truly represents the Sikh Panth. The mother party, Shiromani Akali Dal, has always stood for Sikh principles and community welfare,” he remarked.
Sharing details of his recent outreach, Gargaj said, “I visited more than 1,300 villages and faced no opposition anywhere. The Panth knows who genuinely stands with them.”
