Manjit Singh instigated issue of kar seva by women: Badungar

PATIALA: ‘‘Manjit Singh was responsible for instigating the issue of seva inside the Golden Temple by women,’’ said Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee president Kirpal Singh Badungar while talking to TNN over the phone on Monday. Talking about reasons for the removal of Prof Manjit Singh from the post of Jathedar Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Badungar alleged that Manjit Singh had never informed the SGPC about his foreign tours and not deposited the offerings handed over to him by the sangat during his visits.
‘‘Before removing Bhai Manjit Singh from the post of Jathedar, all allegations against him were duly examined,’’ said Badungar, adding that he himself had gone to meet him at his residence to dissuade him from such acts but he never bothered.‘‘The Jathedars of Takhts and head priests command high esteem in the Sikh community but it was also a fact that they were a part and parcel of the SGPC, the highest elected body of Sikhs, therefore they should also acknowledge it,’’ he added. Talking about the issue of sewa by Sikh women in the Golden Temple, he said that the SGPC wanted to elicit public opinion on this issue but Bhai Manjit Singh, issuing statements to the press, instigated the people. Badungar added: ‘‘The SGPC had appointed its secretary to probe the issue of alleged misbehaviour with the women in the Golden Temple regarding sewa but they could not be contacted as there was no address of them with the SGPC. But Manjit Singh added fuel to the fire by issuing statements to the press.’’
Due to the activities of Prof Manjit Singh, a black chapter was added in the history of Sikhs in the shape of a scuffle in the SGPC complex and for this shameful act he had no sufficient words to extend apology to the Sikh community, the SGPC president said. He added that Manjit Singh also misbehaved in the meetings of Jathedars in which he was asked to respond to the allegations against him. ‘‘But instead Manjit threw away the register,’’ he added.
When asked about the report inquiry constituted in February 1999 against Manjit Singh and Kewal Singh, the former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, he said he did not want comment against Kewal Singh as he was not with the SGPC any more. Badungar skirted the issue when asked a question regarding any inquiry against Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti.