Amritsar: Several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and party leaders submitted letters of clarification at the Sri Akal Takht Sahib secretariat on Friday, seeking forgiveness over a controversy involving allegations of caste-based discrimination raised by party MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura.
The legislators distanced themselves from Giaspura’s allegations and acknowledged that they had not publicly clarified the matter on October 12, despite directions from the Akal Takht jathedar. They stated that no one had ever been prevented from entering the Akal Takht secretariat on the grounds of caste, race or colour, and sought forgiveness from the Guru Sahib.
Those who appeared included AAP MLAs Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Jeevanjot Kaur, Gurdeep Singh, Baljinder Kaur, Sarwan Singh Dhun, Manjinder Singh of Khadoor Sahib, Jasbir Singh, Karmbir Singh and Kulwant Singh. Party figures Sonia Mann, Gur Iqbal Singh and Joban Singh were also among those who submitted their explanations.
The controversy arose after Giaspura, the MLA from Payal in Ludhiana district, alleged that he had been denied entry to the Akal Takht secretariat because of caste-based discrimination. The secretariat’s media adviser, Jaskaran Singh, rejected the allegation.
Giaspura had reportedly been denied entry on the directions of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj following his alleged objectionable remarks about Sikh personalities and institutions.
In a separate development, an AAP delegation submitted a memorandum to the Akal Takht secretariat on Monday, seeking action against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged entry of Delhi Police personnel into Gurdwara Bangla Sahib during a protest in the national capital.
The delegation described the alleged incident as a serious violation of the sanctity of Sikh religious institutions and urged the jathedar to summon Shah and ensure accountability.
