SAD resurgence behind CM’s ‘Saroop’ Politics, alleges Parambans Romana
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, January 7, 2026: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Parambans Singh Romana on Tuesday accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of politicising the issue related to 328 ‘saroops’ of Sri Guru Granth Sahib for political gains, alleging that the move was prompted by the resurgence of the SAD in the Tarn Taran bypoll and the Block Samiti and Zila Parishad elections.
Addressing a press conference here, Romana said the Chief Minister was raking up the issue despite having earlier agreed with the findings of the Bhai Isher Singh Committee report, which had clearly stated that no ‘saroop’ had been stolen.
He asserted that the issue pertained only to the non-deposit of the required donation in the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) treasury while distributing the ‘saroops’ to gurdwara committees and devotees.
Romana pointed out that when SGPC employees approached the High Court after their services were terminated for distributing ‘saroops’ without authorisation, the AAP government had informed the court that the SGPC, being the apex religious body of the Sikh community, had already taken appropriate action and that no further government intervention was required.
He alleged that the Chief Minister had now changed his stand and was bent on politicising the matter due to altered political equations in the state. Romana said the government had intervened despite a clear directive from Sri Akal Takht, which had termed the matter an internal issue of the Sikh community and directed that no government agency should interfere.
The SAD leader termed it unfortunate that, as he put it, “patit people” were attempting to lecture the Sikh community on religious matters. He also criticised the Chief Minister for, according to him, focusing on the ‘saroop’ issue while failing to hold press conferences on the deteriorating law and order situation and the state’s financial condition.
Romana further accused ragi Baldev Singh Wadala of indulging in politics on the issue at the behest of the AAP government, claiming that the complaint had been procured to turn the matter into an election issue years after the incident. He alleged that AAP minister Harjot Singh Bains’ visit to Amritsar and directions to the police to register a case indicated that the episode had been orchestrated by the government.
He also raised objections to the constitution of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), alleging that certain officers appointed to it were controversial. Additionally, Romana questioned the appointment of one of the accused in the ‘saroop’ case, Jaspreet Singh Jild Daar, as Chairman of the Amritsar Planning Board by the AAP government, demanding clarification on the appointment and the lack of action against him