Posted: 07 Jun 2016
AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Ardasia Bhai Balbir Singh, who denied honouring Chief Minister Parkash Badal with a ‘Siropa’ (robe of honour), refused to follow the transfer orders issued by SGPC appointing him at Machhiwara. This transfer order was issued because Bhai Balbir Singh denied giving a ‘Siropa’ to Chief Minister Parkash Badal because he was unsuccessful in nabbing the culprits that are responsible for the serial desecration incidents that occurred last year in mid-October.
On being contacted by Sikh24 on June 7, Bhai Balbir Singh maintained that he wouldn’t abide by the transfer orders as he did nothing wrong. He said that he has served the SGPC for 32 years and wants to complete his remaining 2 years of service but not at the cost of death of conscience. He maintained that he wouldn’t follow the transfer orders at any cost and the SGPC was free to dismiss him anytime.
Bhai Balbir Singh told Sikh24 that he was submitted his resignation letter to the SGPC as he does not wish to perform service else where. “I have been working at Sri Darbar Sahib for the last 32 years, I don’t feel to do seva elsewhere and will continue doing seva as a volunteer at Darbar Sahib now,” Bhai Balbir Singh told Sikh24.
File Photo: Bhai Balbir Singh
On the other hand, Chief Minister Parkash Badal has stated that he went to Sri Harmandir Sahib to pay obeisance and not to get a ‘Siropa’. Expressing innocence about the transfer orders of Bhai Balbir Singh, Badal said that he was not aware of it and if it was so the transfer orders ought to be rolled back immediately.
Bhai Balbir Singh informed Sikh24 that he was given a cheque for Rs. 84,000 by Congress MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa from Dera Baba Nanak. Bhai Balbir Singh has donated this money to Sri Darbar Sahib. Randhawa had called upon fellow Sikhs to support Bhai Balbir Singh.
Bhai Balbir Singh was in the limelight in January when he refused to give siropa to Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal. On January 20, 2016, Sukhbir was at Sri Harmandir Sahib on along with several other leaders of the Akali Dal (B) and his personal security guards. Around 7 AM, as Sukhbir entered Sri Harmandir Sahib from the VVIP lane, Bhai Balbir Singh was asked to present a siropa to him, however, considering the recent cases of sacrilege in Punjab, the elderly sevadar refused to present siropa.