Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal publicly sought forgiveness from the Khalsa Panth (Sikh community) for the 2015 sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib during the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab. Speaking at the party's 103rd foundation day, Badal expressed deep regret and offered an unconditional apology for failing to apprehend and punish the culprits during their tenure. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) charged Sukhbir Badal and former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini as masterminds in the sacrilege cases. The chargesheet also implicated then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in the Kotkapura firing case. Sikh intellectuals blame political inaction for incidents of lynching after blasphemy, emphasizing the need for swift justice in sacrilege cases. Justice Ranjit Singh, who led an inquiry into the sacrilege incidents, had criticized political figures and the Dera Sacha Sauda for their roles.
Key Points:
1. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal has unconditionally sought forgiveness from the Khalsa Panth for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib that occurred during the tenure of the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government in Punjab.
2. Speaking at the 103rd foundation day of SAD, Sukhbir Badal expressed regret and offered a sincere apology to the Akal Takht Sahib and the Sikh community.
3. Badal acknowledged the regrettable sacrilege incidents and expressed sorrow that the government couldn't apprehend and punish the culprits during their tenure.
4. He mentioned the challenges in understanding and defeating conspiracies from certain Panthic individuals and organizations, leading to the transfer of the probe to the CBI.
5. The sacrilege incidents remain the most painful events in Sukhbir Badal's life and that of Parkash Singh Badal.
6. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a charge sheet in February, implicating Sukhbir Badal and former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini as masterminds in sacrilege cases.
7. The charge sheet also held then Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal responsible for the Kotkapura firing case after the sacrilege incident.
8. Blasphemy has been a sensitive issue in Punjab elections since the 2015 Kotkapura firing case, and political inaction is criticized for incidents of lynching after blasphemy or 'Beadbi.'
9. Justice Ranjit Singh, who headed a commission into the alleged incidents of sacrilege, implicated Parkash Singh Badal and Sumedh Singh Saini.
10. Sikh intellectuals, social reformers, and political parties often blame the inaction of political parties for the lack of speedy justice in sacrilege cases, leading people to take matters into their own hands.
(With Agency Inputs)
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