Jathedar holds Mann guilty of religious misconduct

Amritsar: Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Sunday held Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann guilty of religious misconduct for the police firing incident at Gurdwara Akal Bunga Chaoni Nihang Singha in Sultanpur Lodhi on November 23, 2023.The jathedar’s action came nearly two weeks after an SGPC panel held the CM responsible for the incident. In a statement released by the Akal Takht secretariat , Giani Raghbir Singh said after careful consideration of the investigation report submitted by the sub-committee appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, it was determined that the entry of police force into Gurdwara Akal Bunga Chaoni Nihang Singha, wearing shoes, and the subsequent use of force, including firing and use of tear gas, which disrupted the akhand path, occurred without provocation or justifiable circumstances. These actions were found to be in violation of maryada (Sikh code of conduct) and had caused harm to the religious sentiments of Sikhs, said the jathedar. Raghbir Singh elaborated that as per the sub-committee's findings, Mann, who also served as the head of the home department, bore direct responsibility for these actions.
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