SGPC resolution pushes for excommunication of Chaura

The Sikh body also constituted panel to probe involvement of other conspirators and security lapse

- Surjit Singh

AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Monday passed a resolution seeking excommunication of Narain Singh Chaura, the former militant who made an assassination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal outside the Golden Temple on December 4.

Chaura had fired at Sukhbir from close range -- while the latter was undergoing tankhah (religious punishment) for the "mistakes" of his party when it was in power from 2007 to 2017 -- but had missed the shot as he was overpowered by plain-clothes policemen and later arrested.

Terming the attack as a "deep-rooted conspiracy", the SGPC executive committee also constituted a probe panel. The panel, comprising SGPC senior vice-president Raghujit Singh Virk, general secretary Sher Singh Mandwala, executive committee member Sukh Harpreet Singh Rode, chief secretary Kulwant Singh Manan and secretary Partap Singh (coordinator), is to submit its report within three weeks.

After handing over a copy of the resolutions to Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami told the media, "The attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal is a deep-rooted conspiracy. Since the bullet hit the deodi (entrance building) of Sri Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple), the sentiments of Sikhs across the world were hurt. The attack violated the edict of Akal Takht Sahib, the principle of Miri-Piri and Panthic maryada. So, the Akal Takht must take action in this case."

SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami along with other executive members addressing a press conference in Amritsar on Monday.

We did not agree with the appeal to excommunicate the attacker. We lodged our disagreement in written.