CHANDIGARH: Kirti Kisan Forum' Chairman, Swarn Singh Boparai IAS Padamshri, former Union Secretary and Vice Chancellor, 'Lok-Raj' Punjab President Dr Manjit Singh Randhawa, former Financial Commissioner S GPS Sahi IAS, former Commissioner Kulbir Singh Sidhu IAS, GK Singh, former Deputy Commissioner Harkesh Singh IAS, Former DGP GS Pandher, Olympian S Gurbir S Sandhu, Dr H M Singh, Brig Inder Mohan Singh, Brig Harwant Singh, Col Avtar Singh Hira, Col Guron, Col Pannu, Sh Dharam Datt, Iqbal S Sidhu, Brig GJ Singh, Dr HS Sidhu in a joint statement maintained that in "Bargari Sacrilege Case, " it is encouraging to notice that Ranbir Khatra, retired Inspector General of Police, has laid the facts before Akal Takhat, to assuage hurt feelings of the Sikhs and Punjabis all over the world.
Nonetheless, the SIT members are being hauled up, allegedly with the intention of arm twisting to favour the accused. This type of alleged witch-hunting by powers that be is highly condemnable, they said.
*We Punjabis are brought up hearing the verses, "Punjab Vasda Gurran de naa te" and "Sabh Sikhan Ko Hukam Hai Guru Manio Granth."
Unfortunately in the last decade, Sri Guru Granth Sahib’ ji have been at the centre of sacrilege incidents committed by "Dera Sirsa Premis, " ever since 2007 "Jaam-e-Insan" the controvertial immitation of Amrit Ceremony by Guru Gobind Singh ji, they said.
Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege cases of 2015 were investigated by then SIT headed by S Ranbir Singh Khatra IG, now retired. The police investigation had led to arrest of 25 accused in 2018. During investigation, The Dera Head and Dera's "National Commitee" members were also named as conspirators, they disclosed.
After prolonged investigation these cases were put up before courts and challan submitted.
Intriguingly, prosecution sanction of Dera Head Ram Rahim is pending with the Government since July 2022, they added.
Dera Chief Ram Rahim has now got the proceeding stayed in Bargari cases since March 2024. Surprisingly, no further appeal has been filed by the prosecution.
Since, "Justice delayed is Justice Denied" as per Supreme Court judgement, the Punjab Government must speed up the procedure and justice in these cases, since unending delay continues to haunt Punjabis especially the Sikh Diaspora. The alleged witch-hunting of the then SIT, at the behest of politically powerful accused is condemnable, they declared.