Capt asks SGPC to explain Rs 23-cr deficit

“There have always been reports of the SGPC funds being misappropriated and the Durbar Sahib,deficit proves the charges. It only reinforces the suspicion among people that the people controlling the SGPC are ‘golak chors’,” the former chief minister said.

He claimed that he has been informed that some cable television channels being controlled by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s henchmen have withheld about Rs 12 crore,which was due to Darbar Sahib for the daily kirtan that they telecast live. “It is shameful on part of the people who own these channels that while they are minting money in the name of the Guru,they are not ready to pay anything in return,” Amarinder added.

Maintaining that the issue was scandalous and extremely serious,he said,it reflected extremely poorly on the management of the SGPC,which is considered to be the parliament of Sikhs. Of the 86 gurdwaras under the SGPC,42 are running in deficit. He said,this is because the SGPC has failed in its Dharam Prachar Mission. The current SGPC election has alienated people like Sehajdharis and Patits who add up to over 62 lakh out of 1.22 crore Sikh voters. He asked the SGPC to explain as to how much money has been spent on Dharam Prachar in the last presented budget.