Jagtar Singh

The setting up of a sub-committee by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to investigate the honouring of controversial police officer Paramraj Singh Umranangal has not only failed to assuage the Sikh sentiments but has raised the very issue of the incompetence of this elected Sikh body to articulate the Sikh thought and aspirations. This so called mini-Parliament of the Sikhs elected through direct franchise has a glorious history of raising the issues like the Sikh homeland and the separate and exclusive identity of the Sikhs. This body used to be headed by the stalwarts over the years who dictated the Sikh religio-political discourse. Independent Sikh leaders have questioned the very legitimacy in appointing this probe panel that is being viewed as a cover up operation in the Umranangal case. The SGPC has transferred two of its officials involved while constituting this panel. Former SGPC general secretary Kiranjot Kaur has raised the larger issue of the f...

The times are changing fast and the apex elected Sikh body that is Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee too can’t keep itself in isolation, although it is quarantine that is advisable. The SGPC went to the extent of honouring a controversial police official under suspension and facing a trial and that too for a contribution that in normal course is not considered much of a contribution. Rather the Sikhs don’t seek recognition for such donations. The officer under discussion is Inspector General of Police Paramraj Singh Umranangal who is facing trial in the case of police firing on peaceful Sikh protesters at Kotkapura in 2015 when Punjab was under Akali Dal rule with Parkash Singh Badal as the chief minister with his son Sukhbir Singh Badal as the deputy chief minister. The protest was against sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari that is few kilometres from Kotkapura. He was honoured for donating a few quintals of wheat flour and some other items earlier this we...