The Akal Takht, the highest temporal and spiritual authority in Sikhism, on Friday declared Aam Aadmi Party MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct) over his alleged objectionable remarks against Sikh religious institutions and personalities, news agency PTI reported.
Several AAP legislators also sought forgiveness and distanced themselves from his remarks after appearing before the Akal Takht secretariat.
This comes months after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself was declared a "Guru Dokhi" and "Khalsa Panth Virodhi" by the Akal Takht over a controversial viral video.
According to a statement issued by the secretariat, Giaspura, who represents the Payal constituency in Ludhiana district, was denied entry into its premises on October 12.
He was accompanying a group of AAP MLAs and leaders who had visited the religious body in connection with his alleged past remarks against Sikh personalities and institutions.
Giaspura later allegedly told the media outside the secretariat, located in the Darbar Sahib complex in Amritsar, that he had faced caste-based discrimination.
The statement issued by the Akal Takht secretariat said AAP legislators appeared before it on Friday in compliance with directions issued by the Jathedar of the Akal Takht Sahib.
They admitted that despite the Jathedar's directions, they had neither contradicted Giaspura’s allegations before the media on October 12 nor clarified that they had not faced any caste-based discrimination and that his remarks were inappropriate, the communique, cited by PTI, added.
The legislators present on Friday sought forgiveness from the 'Guru Sahib' and clarified that no one had ever been prevented from visiting the Akal Takht Sahib on the grounds of caste, race or colour.
The AAP MLAs and leaders also said they did not agree with Giaspura’s remarks and described them as his personal views.
Earlier on Monday, a delegation of Punjab AAP MLAs had submitted a memorandum to the Akal Takht secretariat seeking action against Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged entry of Delhi Police personnel into Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi during a protest.
Calling the incident a grave violation of the sanctity of Sikh religious institutions, the MLAs urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to summon Shah and ensure accountability.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Akal Takht secretariat media adviser Jaskaran Singh rejected Giaspura’s claim that he had been denied entry because of caste-based discrimination.
He said Giaspura was stopped because of his alleged past "derogatory, highly objectionable and threatening" remarks against the Jathedar of the Akal Takht and Sikh institutions.
- Ends
(With PTI inputs)