SGPC Endorses Akal Takht's 'Guru Dokhi' Label for Punjab CM Over Sacrilege Controversy; Panthic Meeting Set for July 5

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex religious body of Sikhs, has unanimously backed the Akal Takht's decision to declare the Punjab Chief Minister as 'Guru Dokhi' (betrayer of the Guru) for failing to ensure justice in the 2015 sacrilege cases. The decision was taken during a special general meeting held at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall in Amritsar.

The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhism, had earlier issued a decree (hukamnama) branding the Chief Minister as 'Guru Dokhi' for allegedly protecting those responsible for the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot district in 2015. The sacrilege incidents triggered widespread protests across Punjab, with Sikh bodies demanding swift action against the perpetrators.

The SGPC, in its meeting, resolved to fully support the Akal Takht's directive and called for a Panthic (Sikh community) meeting on July 5 to deliberate on future steps. The meeting is expected to be attended by representatives of major Sikh organisations, including the SGPC, Akal Takht clergy, and various Sikh activist groups.

The 'Guru Dokhi' declaration has significant implications in Sikh polity, as it effectively ostracises the Chief Minister from religious affairs and calls on the community to shun him. The move has intensified political tensions in Punjab, with opposition parties accusing the ruling government of failing to uphold Sikh sentiments.

The sacrilege case, which involved the theft and desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib from a gurdwara in Bargari, remains a sensitive issue in the state. The Akal Takht had previously indicted the then Congress government for its handling of the matter. The current Chief Minister belongs to the Aam Aadmi Party, which came to power in 2022.

The SGPC's endorsement reinforces the religious authority's stance and puts pressure on the state government to address the unresolved cases. The upcoming Panthic meeting is expected to chart a course of action, including possible protests or legal measures.

Observers note that the development highlights the ongoing friction between religious institutions and political entities in Punjab, where Sikh identity plays a crucial role in public life. The SGPC has urged the community to remain united and follow the Akal Takht's directives.