Perneet Singh, Tribune News Service
Amritsar, February 11. The Sikh high priests will hold a meeting here on February 25 and the issues that are expected to figure on their agenda include film actor Amitabh Bachchan’s letter pleading innocence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Amitabh had handed over his letter, addressed to the Akal Takht Jathedar, to Gurinder Singh Bawa, an SGPC member from Mumbai, at the latter’s residence on November 28 last year.
In his letter, the actor had written that he too was associated with Sikhism as his mother Teji Bachchan belonged to a Sikh family. He had dubbed the allegations of provoking anti-Sikh riots in 1984 against him as “baseless”.
Another issue towards which various outfits have sought the Sikh clergy’s attention was that of various political leaders visiting Dera Sacha Sauda to garner support during the recently held Punjab Assembly elections.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh has already stated that action would be taken against such leaders in accordance with Panthic traditions, if any proof corroborating their visit to the dera was provided.
The other major issue that was likely to be discussed in the meeting was that of the recent violent clash between the SGPC staff and the members of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee, a private outfit, over the issue of “maryada”.
Another issue on the agenda may be that of a preacher, Prof Sarabjit Singh Dhunda, who stirred a controversy by making an “objectionable remark” against the Golden Temple.
Meanwhile, a US court would be hearing a case against the Congress in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots on March 15 on a petition filed by Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based human rights advocacy group.
