Punjab politics and Sikh religious administration have once again come under intense debate after senior AAP leader and MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar termed recent revelations by former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh as deeply disturbing.
Nijjar said that allegations made by a respected religious figure familiar with internal institutional functioning cannot be dismissed as mere political statements. He stressed that the matter concerns the credibility of Sikhism’s highest institutions.
Questions Over Institutional Functioning
The MLA alleged irregularities in the sale of valuable religious land assets at throwaway prices to benefit select individuals. He claimed such actions amount to a breach of trust and could damage the faith of the Sikh community.
He also raised concerns about alleged irregularities in contracts awarded under the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), stating that contracts are allegedly first given to selected individuals and later sublet at higher rates, causing financial loss to the religious treasury.
Serious Allegations Raised
Nijjar further referred to reports that devotees were allegedly asked to pay up to Rs 5 lakh for performing religious recitations at Sri Harmandir Sahib. He said if proven true, such claims would be extremely unfortunate and alarming.
He also mentioned allegations of financial transactions influencing staff transfers, raising concerns about transparency within religious bodies.
Missing 328 Saroops Issue
Highlighting what he termed the most serious issue, Nijjar spoke about 328 missing saroops (holy copies) of Guru Granth Sahib. He said the disappearance of handwritten and historically significant saroops is not merely administrative negligence but a sensitive matter linked to Sikh heritage.
Nijjar demanded a transparent, high-level investigation and urged the Sikh community to unite in strengthening institutional accountability and transparency.
The controversy has sparked fresh debate in Sikh politics, with attention now focused on whether concerned authorities will initiate an independent probe into the allegations.
