‘Excommunicate SGPC office bearers for misappropriation’

Sikh Welfare Front leader Avtar Singh Khalsa addressing press conference in Jammu on Friday.
Sikh Welfare Front leader Avtar Singh Khalsa addressing press conference in Jammu on Friday.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 28: Sikh Welfare Front, J&K has appealed to the Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Amritsar to excommunicate the office bearers of the SGPC who are responsible for the misappropriation of `Saroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
Addressing a joint press conference here today members of various Sikh organizations, under the banner of Sikh Welfare Front (J&K), expressed serious concern over the misappropriation of 328 `Saroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. While appreciating the prompt action of Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh Ji for initiating an inquiry by framing a panel, the members said entire Sikh Sangat in J&K wants action against the people responsible for it.
Avtar Singh Khalsa, senior member pointed out that the panel formed by Jathedar Sri Akal Takhat Sahib has found embezzlement in additional 61 `Saroops’ after scrutinizing the ledgers of 2013-14 and 2014-15. The J&K Sikh leaders in one voice held the SGPC Amritsar responsible for all this misappropriations in the audit of record of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s `Saroops’.
These leaders said if SGPC is not handling the audit of Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in proper way then how they are maintaining the accounts of SGPC. This raises many questions in the minds of Sikh Sangat. They appealed to the Jathedar to remove the office bearers of the SGPC responsible for misappropriation.
They appreciated the decision of Dr Saroop Singh, chief secretary, SGPC Amritsar for resigning from the post on moral grounds. They said the president SGPC , S. Gobind Singh Longowal should also resign on moral grounds.
Avtar Singh was accompanied by N S Khalsa, Jathedar Mohinder Singh, Jathedar Manmohan Singh, Balwant Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Manjit Singh, Sanmukh Singh and others.