Mann slams Akalis, calls SGPC a ‘golak committee'

Time of India

4 days ago

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Amritsar:
Punjab chief minister
Bhagwant Singh Mann
accused the Akalis of allegedly manipulating the appointments of jathedars and reducing the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) to a mere 'Shiromani Golak Prabandhak Committee' out of their greed for money.
Addressing a public gathering here on Sunday, Mann alleged that the Badals misused their political power to interfere in religious affairs, including manipulating the appointment of jathedars of Akal Takht to suit their personal interests.
He also alleged that, driven by financial motives, the Akalis degraded the sanctity of the SGPC and misused both it and the Akal Takht for narrow political gains. Mann also accused them of twisting the directives of the Akal Takht to deceive the public and serve their own agendas.
"Akalis not only looted the state exchequer but also funds belonging to religious institutions," he alleged, adding that their tenure was marked by political and religious exploitation, which caused significant harm to Punjab.
The chief minister said the Akali leadership symbolises a legacy where the poor were neglected while the powerful looted the state with impunity.
He went on to allege that the Akalis exploited the underprivileged and weaker sections of society, adding that they are now facing the consequences of their actions.
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SGPC hits back at Mann
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has strongly objected to chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's remark referring to the SGPC as the 'Shiromani Golak Parbandhak Committee' during his address on Sunday.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said Mann's remarks are baseless, deeply hurt Sikh sentiments, and show utter disrespect towards the supreme gurdwara management body of the Sikh community.
He said such a comment not only reflects Mann's intellectual bankruptcy but also exposes his arrogance and shallow mindset.
Dhami emphasised that the SGPC is not just a gurdwara administrative body but also an ideal institution in the fields of social service and education.
'Neglected weaker sections'
Chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday slammed traditional political parties for being insensitive to the welfare of economically weaker and underprivileged sections.
He said, "these selfish leaders have always treated scheduled castes (SC) brethren merely as vote banks."
Addressing the gathering, Mann said those who usurped money meant for the well-being of poor students under the post-matric scholarship scheme are now facing several health ailments. He mentioned that this money is now being spent on their treatment in hospitals, as they face the wrath of the Almighty. He said these former rulers of the state were completely insensitive to the problems of the common man.
He remarked that the convent-educated leaders of previous governments never bothered to improve the level of education in the state, adding that the sole reason for this was that their own children studied in big private schools in the hills, while only the children of the common man attended government schools. In contrast, Mann said his government has been focusing on transforming the lives of the common people by providing them with quality education.
SGPC committee meet on June 12
The meeting of the executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which was earlier scheduled for June 9, will now be held on June 12, informed SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan in a release issued here on late Sunday evening.He said the meeting was postponed due to some important engagements and will be held on June 12 at 12 noon. He also informed that on the same day, at 3 pm, a meeting of the Dharam Parchar Committee will also be held.
Mann reiterates Rs 67.8cr loan waiver
CM Bhagwant Mann also reiterated his govt's move to waive loans amounting to Rs 67.84 crore disbursed by the Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development & Finance Corporation (PSCFC) up to March 31, 2020, benefiting approximately 4,800 families.
While addressing a gathering during a function to hand over certificates of loan waiver to the beneficiaries on Sunday, Mann said the waiver covered all loans disbursed by the PSCFC up to the mentioned date, offering significant relief to SC and divyangjan (persons with disabilities) loanees.