Dal Khalsa urges SGPC not to instal the portrait of Nihang Santa Singh at National Sikh Museum

Amritsar, Punjab (May 09, 2012): Expressing its serious objections on the resolution adopted by the SGPC to install the portrait of former chief of Shiromani Panth Akali Budha Dal late Santa Singh in the Sikh Central Museum, the Dal Khalsa today urged the head of Sikh premier institution to withdraw its resolution.

Notably, Baba Santa Singh courted controversy when he at the instance of Indira Gandhi government undertook “kar sewa” of Akal Takht building in 1984 after the top temporal seat was brought to rubble during army attack. Subsequently, he was ‘excommunicated’ by Jathedar Kirpal Singh and four others from the Sikh Panth on 22-7-1984 for undermining the dignity of Akal Takht.

However, his ‘excommunication’ was revoked by Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti in 2001 only after he admitted his “sin” and accepted the punishment for violating the “Sikh Maryada”. He later died on May 8, 2008.

In a hard hitting letter addressed to SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar, the organization has asked him to explain on what basis the SGPC has decided to install the photo of a person, who challenged the supremacy of Akal Takht and violated Sikh Reyat Maryada.

Party head Harchranjit Singh Dhami in a communiqué has asked the Makkar to list one single achievement of Santa Singh towards the Sikh Panth for which he was being honoured.

The copy of the letter was also handed over to Gaini Gurbachan Singh at Akal Takht secretariat apart from Manjit Singh, secretary to SGPC head.

“Despite his returned to Sikh fold after remaining excommunicated for 17 years, Santa Singh in his personal capacity is disliked by the Sikh community at large, he pointed out and wondered how his photo could be part of the same museum where portraits of most revered and distinguished personalities have been installed”.

“It’s ironic that the portrait of a person who ridicule Akal Takht will be placed along aside where portraits of those who sacrificed their lives for the sanctity of Akal Takht were installed”, he rued.

“The SGPC executive meet at Anandpur Sahib on May 3 has given the Sikhs immense happiness as well as pain. We felt happiness because SGPC gave a final consent to implement its 10 years old own resolution to build memorial for 1984 martyrs. At the same time, we felt pain because it took decision to install the portrait of Santa Singh at Sikh Museum”, reads the letter.