Sarna, DSGMC president Sirsa exchange barbs over court hearing

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 10

Sikh politics in the national capital took an ugly turn today when three major factions engaged in a heated exchange over court hearing.

The elections to the DSGMC, which were postponed due to the Covid wave, are likely to be held soon.

More allegations

The Jag Aasra Guru Ott (JAGO) party led by Manjit Singh GK, a former president of the DSGMC, joined the war of words and accused Sirsa of “misleading” the press. Parminder Pal Singh, chief general secretary of JAGO, said Sirsa shockingly gave himself a clean chit.

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), accused his predecessor Paramjit Singh Sarna of “lying” after the latter alleged that there was a “lookout circular” against Sirsa.

Sarna cited an order of the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, saying a “lookout circular had been issued over suspicion that Sirsa might flee the country fearing arrest in connection with the ongoing court case on the alleged misuse of funds of the DSGMC”. Countering him, Sirsa, at a press conference, cited the same court order and said, “There was no lookout circular. Sarna is lying.”

On the allegation that the court has directed the investigating officer (IO) in the case to ensure that the accused does not flee from justice, Sirsa said, “There is no question of fleeing. The matter is under investigation. The IO has informed the court that he was examining the funds and their outflow.” Sarna, who heads the SADD, alleged Sirsa had sold off his properties. He challenged the Badals (Parkash Singh and Sukhbir) to sack Sirsa to prove their claims that they were custodians of the Sikh cause. Sirsa, on his part, accused the Sarna brothers (Paramjit and Harvinder) saying, “Let them prove at least one allegation.”