Sri Amritsar Sahib, September 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Akali Dal “Waris Punjab De” acting president Bapu Tarsem Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Manpreet Singh Ayali have opposed the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) proposal to seek a CBI probe into the case registered over alleged rape at the sarais of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib.
They said matters concerning the functioning and sanctity of Sikh institutions should be investigated under the supervision of respected, Panth-approved personalities from the Sikh community rather than being handed over to central agencies.
Bapu Tarsem Singh held SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal responsible for what he described as bringing disrepute to the Sikh community following the allegations concerning the sarais at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib.
He said the reported incident had caused distress among Sikhs and required a transparent and time-bound investigation.
Reacting to Dhami’s advocacy for transferring the investigation to the CBI following an SGPC executive committee meeting, Bapu Tarsem Singh said he opposed the move.
He argued that the Sikh community had historically struggled to protect the SGPC and other Sikh institutions from government interference and said it was unfortunate that the SGPC president was now advocating a probe by a central agency into an incident that occurred under the committee’s administrative responsibility.
Bapu Tarsem Singh also referred to Dhami’s reported description of himself as a “soldier of Sukhbir Badal” and questioned whether he could independently discharge his responsibilities towards the Sikh community and the Panth.
He demanded that an inquiry committee comprising highly respected and Panth-approved personalities be constituted to conduct a time-bound investigation into the matter.
He further called for Dhami’s resignation during the inquiry, arguing that the SGPC president should step aside to ensure that the investigation was not influenced in any manner.
Bapu Tarsem Singh also alleged that shortcomings in SGPC administration had contributed to the situation and said Dhami should step down on moral grounds.
Ayali, meanwhile, rejected both the inquiry committee constituted by the SGPC and the proposal to hand over the investigation to the CBI.
He said the issue was not limited to the FIR registered in connection with the alleged rape case but also concerned what he described as a wider erosion of trust in the SGPC, the apex elected religious body representing Sikh institutions.
Ayali also raised the issue of the absence of SGPC elections for around 15 years and questioned the accountability of the present administrative system to the Sikh community.
He demanded Dhami’s immediate resignation and called for a general session of the SGPC to constitute an inquiry committee under the supervision of eminent, Panth-approved personalities representing the sentiments of the Sikh Sangat.
“We reject the inquiry committee formed by the SGPC as well as the advocacy to transfer the investigation to the CBI,” Ayali said.
The leaders’ remarks came amid demands for an investigation into the allegations concerning the sarais at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. The allegations are subject to investigation and due legal process.
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