Latest news with #GianiRaghbirSingh
Hindustan Times
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Virsa Singh Valtoha tenders apology before Akal Takht
AMRITSAR : Former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Virsa Singh Valtoha on Tuesday tendered a written apology to the Akal Takht and urged the jathedar to reconsider the decree that asked the party to expel him for 10 years for allegedly levelling allegations against the then jathedars — Giani Raghbir Singh (Akal Takht) and Giani Harpreet Singh (Takht Damdama Sahib). The then Sikh clergy headed by Giani Raghbir Singh took the action on October 15, 2024, during an emergency meeting at the highest Sikh temporal seat after Valtoha failed to produce evidence to support his public claim that the jathedars are under pressure of the BJP-led central government, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Sikhs living abroad in the matter of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was declared 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) by the highest Sikh temporal seat for the mistakes committed by the party from 2007to 17. Valtoha resigned from the party after issuance of the edict against him. However, he continued his political activities. Days after Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale was pardoned by the Sikh clergy for his objectionable utterances on Sikh practices, traditions and principles and ban on his discourses was lifted, Valtoha also approached Akal Takht. He visited the Takht secretariat to submit his written plea, which was received by secretariat in-charge Bagicha Singh. Though Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj was also present at the secretariat, he did not meet him. 'In the current situation, I did not find it appropriate to meet him at this moment.' said Valtoha, responding to a query.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
No air defence guns deployed at Golden Temple, says Indian Army
Amid row over a top military official's claim that anti-drone weapons were deployed on the premises of the Golden Temple during Operation Sindoor, the Indian Army on Tuesday clarified that no air defence guns were put up at the shrine. The assertion came after the Golden Temple management and the head granthi (priest) of the shrine vehemently denied some media reports (quoting the army official) that claimed that permission had been given to the forces to deploy air defence guns to counter potential drone and missile threats from Pakistan. 'Some media reports are circulating with respect to deployment of air defence guns in the Golden Temple. It is clarified that no such resources were deployed on the premises of the Golden Temple,' said an army in a release. On Monday, Lt Gen Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, the army's in-charge of air defence, was quoted by news outlets as saying that the head priest (Giani Raghbir Singh) had permitted the deployment of air defence guns in the shrine complex. Prior to this, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, the general officer commanding (GOC), 15 Infantry Division, said that Golden Temple was targeted by Pakistan forces with missiles and drones and India's air defence system had successfully intercepted and destroyed them to protect the shrine. Terming the statements 'propaganda', Giani Raghbir said, 'I was not contacted by any army officer. There was no communication on any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib. In any case, I was on leave in the US for 22 days. I went on April 24 and returned on May 14. The conflict started after I left and ended before I returned. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee should probe the army's claims and take departmental action if any SGPC member is found involved in this matter.' In an official statement by the SGPC, additional head granthi Giani Amarjit Singh, who was officiating in Giani Raghbir Singh's absence, said the administration contacted them only about switching off the lights during the blackout after recent escalation of tension between India and Pakistan and they fully cooperated in the interest of administrative responsibility. Despite the tense situation in recent days, the full religious code of conduct continued at Harmandar Sahib with dedication and discipline, he said. He denied granting any permission to the army and reiterated there was no such weapon deployment at the shrine. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also said no army officer contacted him and neither was any air defence gun put up at the shrine. He said even during the blackout, devotees continued to do sewa (voluntary service) at the shrine and had any such event occurred, the sangat (followers) would have certainly noticed it. Dhami acknowledged the commendable role played by the Army and the country during the tense circumstances, but emphasized that 'spreading such falsehoods about the central religious place of Sikhs days after the events is shockingly untrue'. He also demanded a clarification from the government.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
SGPC, head priest deny Army officer's claim on air defence guns at Golden Temple during Indo-Pak standoff
CHANDIGARH: A day after Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha hinted that air defence guns were deployed at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to counter potential drone and missile threats from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and additional head granthi of the Golden Temple Giani Raghbir Singh denied the claim. In a statement released by the SGPC, Giani Amarjeet Singh, additional head granthi of the Golden Temple, clarified that the management had cooperated with the district administration's guidelines regarding the city-wide blackout by switching off exterior and upper lights of the complex within the specified time frame. However, lights at locations where religious code of conduct (maryada) is observed were kept on, and the sanctity of the religious place was maintained with full responsibility. Singh claimed that no permission was granted to deploy air defence guns during Operation Sindoor, nor was any such deployment allowed at the sacred site. Despite the tense situation in recent days, the full religious code of conduct continued at the Golden Temple with dedication and discipline, he said. SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said the administration contacted them about switching off the lights during the blackout, and they fully cooperated while maintaining the sanctity of the ongoing maryada. However, there was no contact from any Army official regarding the installation of air defence guns at the Golden Temple.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Head granthi denies army statement on air defence guns at Golden Temple
Golden Temple head granthi (priest) Giani Raghbir Singh on Tuesday refuted the statement of Lieutenant General Sumer Ivan D'Cunha, the army's in-charge of air defence, that he had permitted the deployment of air defence guns in the shrine complex to counter potential drone and missile threats from Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. In an exclusive interview with ANI on Monday, Lieutenant General D'Cunha had said, 'It was very nice that the head granthi of the Golden Temple allowed us to deploy our guns.' He said the unprecedented cooperation from the Golden Temple authorities came after they were briefed on the gravity of the threat, following which Indian Army guns were deployed. Prior to him, Major General Kartik C Seshadri, the general officer commanding (GOC), 15 Infantry Division, said that Golden Temple was targeted by Pakistan forces with missiles and drones and India's air defence system had successfully intercepted and destroyed them to protect the shrine. Terming the statements 'propaganda', Giani Raghbir Singh said, 'I was not contacted by any army officer. There was no communication on any gun deployment, nor did any such incident occur at Sri Darbar Sahib. I was on leave in the US for 22 days. I went on April 24 and returned on May 14. The conflict started after I left and ended before I returned. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee should probe the army's claims and take departmental action if any SGPC member is found involved in this matter.' Interacting with the media in Amritsar, Giani Raghbir Singh, who is a former Akal Takht jathedar, said: 'The SGPC cooperated with the government in implementing the blackout at Sri Harmandar Sahib, but such claims (by the generals) are shockingly untrue.' In an official statement by the SGPC, additional head granthi Giani Amarjit Singh, who was officiating in Giani Raghbir Singh's absence, clarified that the Sri Harmandar Sahib management had cooperated with the district administration's guidelines on the blackout by switching off exterior lights of the complex for the specified period. However, lights at locations where the maryada (religious code of conduct) is observed, were kept on, and the sanctity the place was maintained. He denied granting any permission to the army and reiterated there was no such deployment at the shrine. Despite the border tension, he said, the religious code of conduct was followed. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said no army officer contacted him and neither was any air defence gun put up at the shrine. He said even during the blackout, devotees continued to do sewa (voluntary service) at Sri Harmandar Sahib and had any such event occurred, the sangat (followers) would have certainly noticed it. Dhami acknowledged the commendable role played by the armed forces in protecting the country under Operation Sindoor. Responding to media queries, Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said, 'What has been said (by the generals) does not seem to have happened.'
Hindustan Times
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab CM condemns ‘misbehaviour' with ex-jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday sought severest of severe action against Air India employees responsible for alleged 'misbehaviour' with former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. In a statement issued here, the chief minister said that the incident of 'maltreatment' of the former jathedar was highly condemnable. 'This sort of irresponsible behaviour is unwarranted and undesirable. He is a respected personality of Punjab in general and Sikh community in particular and this sought of mistreatment with him cannot be tolerated,' he said. He urged the central government to take exemplary action against the erring employees of Air India.
