Amritsar, Jan 5 — On the directions of five Sikh high priests, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Tarunpreet Sond and AAP MLA Inderbir Nijjar appeared at the Akal Takht on Monday to clarify a controversial painting at Bhai Jeevan Singh Memorial in Anandpur Sahib. The artwork showed Guru Gobind Singh wearing shoes while administering ‘amrit’ to Bhai Jaita Ji, sparking protests.
Akal Takht officiating jathedar Kuldip Gargaj received the clarification from both leaders. Sond said he would recommend to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann the appointment of a tourism department official “well-versed in Sikh history, culture, and code of conduct.”
Nijjar assured the Takht that he would abide by the constitution of the Chief Khalsa Diwan, under which “only amritdhari Sikhs can be its members.”
The directive for their appearance followed Gargaj’s November 18 order asking Sond to appear within a week and the department director to provide a written explanation. Sond had been unable to attend earlier due to the 350th martyrdom anniversary functions of Guru Teg Bahadur.
SGPC president Harjinder Dhami had on November 11 demanded an apology from the government and the immediate removal of the painting from the memorial.
