Spotlight
oi-Oneindia Staff
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura on Thursday criticised the previous BJP-Akali government over the theft and subsequent incidents of beadbi of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in 2015. He also questioned the police firing on people who were protesting peacefully at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan.
Punjab AAP MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura criticized the previous BJP-Akali government over the 2015 Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji beadbi and police firings in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, questioning Sukhbir Singh Badal’s role and alleging political motivations behind a potential alliance.
Giaspura said the incidents of 2015 remain a painful issue for people across Punjab. He accused the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal of using the Guru Sahib and the Panth for political purposes while it was in power along with the BJP.
The AAP MLA also criticised the reported efforts to revive an alliance between the BJP and Akali Dal. He alleged that Sukhbir Badal was seeking the BJP’s support for political protection in cases linked to the beadbi incidents and police firing. He further claimed that the alliance was also connected to efforts to bring back the three farm laws in Punjab.
Addressing a press conference, Giaspura questioned how Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was Punjab’s Home Minister in 2015, could claim that he did not know about the theft of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
“On June 1, 2015, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was stolen during the Akali-BJP government, but the incident was taken lightly by the government. Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was then the Home Minister, has told the SIT during questioning that he was not aware of the theft. However, the Intelligence Wing had sent a report and Sukhbir Singh Badal’s personal secretary also told the SIT that information about the incident was available. How could the Home Minister remain unaware when his own office had received information?”
Giaspura said the government also failed to take timely action after posters were put up in September 2015 challenging Sikhs to find the stolen Guru Sahib.
He said the failure to act allowed the situation to worsen, leading to the October 2015 beadbi incident in which Angs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were found scattered on the streets. According to Giaspura, the incident caused deep pain among Sikhs in Punjab and around the world.
Giaspura said the gathering at Kotkapura was peaceful, with people taking part in ardas and kirtan. He said water cannons were used against the protesters and added that he was personally present at the protest.
He referred to the chargesheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the Kotkapura firing case. According to him, Sukhbir Badal, Charanjit Sharma, Paramraj Singh Umranangal and Sumedh Singh Saini are facing proceedings in the case and are currently out on bail.
“The SIT (Special Investigation Team) has already presented a chargesheet in the Kotkapura firing case, in which Sukhbir Badal, Charanjit Sharma, Paramraj Singh Umranangal and Sumedh Singh Saini are facing proceedings and are currently on bail. The key question before the SIT is who ordered the firing and who gave the directions to disperse the peaceful protesters,” he said.
He said the events at Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015, were even more painful, as Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh were killed in police firing during a peaceful protest.
Giaspura questioned Sukhbir Badal’s repeated claim that he was not in Punjab when the Behbal Kalan firing took place.
“Sukhbir Badal has repeatedly claimed that he was not in Punjab at the time. But court documents related to his bail indicate that Sukhbir Badal was present in Punjab and was staying at a five-star hotel. Directions were being given from there to senior police officers including Charanjit Sharma, Paramraj Singh Umranangal and Sumedh Singh Saini. The people of Punjab want to know who ordered the firing and who gave the directions to disperse the protesters. Sukhbir Badal himself had acknowledged his role in the events before the Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” he added.
The AAP MLA also referred to a statement given by Giani Raghbir Singh to the SIT and said that Sukhbir Badal’s acknowledgement before the Sri Akal Takht Sahib is part of the official record.
“If this acknowledgement and other evidence are already part of the record, why should they not be presented before the court and the SIT? Why should those responsible not face the strictest punishment? Punjab has the right to know who gave the orders and who was responsible for the deaths of Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh,” he said.
Giaspura said the proposed renewed understanding between the BJP and Akali Dal showed that the two parties had failed to learn from the events of 2015.
“The alliance is being pursued because the BJP is once again in power at the Centre and Sukhbir Badal expects political protection in the cases related to the beadbi and the deaths of Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh. The proposed Akali-BJP alliance is not about the interests of Punjab or the Panth. It is being pursued because the BJP is once again in power at the Centre and Sukhbir Badal expects political protection in these cases. Sukhbir Badal is once again compromising the interests of Punjab and the Panth for political gain,” he said.
He also linked the proposed alliance to the farm laws issue.
“The farm laws had led to the deaths of more than 750 farmers during the farmers’ movement, and Sukhbir Singh Badal is once again compromising the interests of Punjab for political gain,” he added.
Giaspura said people in Punjab were closely following the SIT proceedings and would not forget those responsible for the beadbi incidents and the deaths of the two protesters.
“Those who have hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community and those responsible for the firing will eventually face justice. The wheel of justice may move slowly, but it grinds exceedingly fine,” he said.
The AAP MLA also highlighted steps taken by the Bhagwant Mann government to strengthen punishment for beadbi. He said the government had introduced stringent legislation that provides for life imprisonment and does not allow bail for those found guilty under the law.
“Those who fear this law are attempting to create objections and hurdles against it. At the same time, senior lawyers and intellectuals who have fought for Punjab’s rights have supported this law and considered it justified. The Bhagwant Mann government is committed to ensuring strict punishment for beadbi and ensuring that those responsible face justice,” concluded MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura.
