Harjot Singh cornered Sukhbir Badal, said- raising questions on Sri Akal Takht Sahib is a direct attack on the sect.

Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains today strongly criticized the comments of Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal regarding the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib dated December 2, 2024, saying that such statements weaken the supreme authority of the Sikh Panth and are a direct attack on its sanctity and collective sentiments. He said that Shri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme spiritual center of the Panth and every order issued from there is the Brahma order of Akal Purakh, on which no question can be raised. He said that those who challenge the authority of Takht Sahib cannot claim to represent the sect.

Appeal to Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj

Demanding immediate intervention, he appealed to Executive Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj to take strict cognizance of the matter. In the same context, Harjot Singh Bains also highlighted the political interference in religious and heritage related matters and said that the SGPC changed about 90 percent of the project to prevent the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann government from getting the credit for the Sri Anandpur Sahib Heritage Street Project. He said that people will remember who stopped this important religious and cultural project.

He further said that Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the supreme spiritual and worldly center for the Sikh panth. Every order issued from there is a divine order and no question can be raised on it.

Giving a stern warning, he said that anyone who questions the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib will have to be accountable to Guru Sahib.

Appealing to Executive Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj, Minister Harjot Singh Bains said that Sukhbir Singh Badal has attacked Sri Akal Takht Sahib with his words. This is an attack on our faith. Any Sikh who does not accept the orders of the Akal Takht or questions its authenticity loses his right to be called a Sikh. Therefore, strict action should be taken against him.

He further said that former Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Raghbir Singh has also strongly condemned the statement of Sukhbir Singh Badal and called upon the sect to unite against any attempt to question the authority of the Takht.

Answering the media’s question regarding the Sri Anandpur Sahib Heritage Street Project, Harjot Singh Bains said that the SGPC stopped the project due to the fear that someone else might get the credit for it. He said that he was given the charge of Tourism Department for two months and during this time he prepared this project with full dedication. This project was also reviewed by SGPC. Even today, a model of it, including a porch, is kept in front of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib.

He said that the Shiromani Committee changed 90 percent of the original design of this heritage street project for political reasons, because it did not want the credit for it to go to Harjot Singh Bains, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann or anyone else.

He further said that such a porch had already been built at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, then why was such a major part of the approved design changed? However, he clarified that whatever decision the Shiromani Committee or the Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib takes, it is the order of the Panth for him. He said that it was his heartfelt desire to see this project completed.

He said the proposed route was intended to connect Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib with Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib—the holy place where the sacred head of the ninth Guru was cremated and where Guru Gobind Singh Ji used to pay obeisance daily. He said that he wholeheartedly accepts the decision of the Sikh organization, but now the decision has to be taken by the community and the people of Sri Anandpur Sahib. He said that the Sikh community will always remember who stopped this project.

Harjot Singh Bains expressed disappointment

Expressing disappointment over these changes, Harjot Singh Bains said that the existing road leading to Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib is too steep. To solve this, he had planned stairs, a lift and open passage for city kirtan. He said that today it is difficult for the elderly and many other people to go on this climb, but whatever decision the Shiromani Committee takes, they are ready to accept it. He confirmed that now this project will be developed from Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib to Gurudwara Sis Ganj Sahib and Kila Anandgarh Sahib.