In startling revelations, Sarbat Khalsa appointed jathedar of takht Damdama Sahib Bhai Baljit Singh Daduwal has claimed before Punjab Government's Commission of Inquiry that former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and his brother-in-law Bikram Majithia had offered him to make head priest of any takht (temporal seat) for not participating in 2016 Sarbat Khalsa.
Appearing before the Commission of Inquiry set up to look into false cases during past 10-years under the Akali-BJP regime headed by Justice (Retd) Mehtab Singh Gill, Daduwal alleged that he was falsely implicated after he denied Sukhbir and Majithia’s offer.
“He claimed that the then Deputy Home Minister Sukhbir Badal and the then Revenue Minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia came to him before the Sarbat Khalsa on November 6, 2015,” a senior government official shared with The Pioneer.
He claimed that the two SAD leaders requested him not to attend Sarbat Khalsa saying that his any demand would be granted. “He was even offered to be appointed head priest of any temporal seat but he refused. Daduwal even claimed that he was later threatened with a number of false cases if he attended Sarbat Khalsa,” added the official.
The two-member Commission has now recommended the cancellation of two FIRs against him registered on November 12, 2015, and December 6, 2015, on the charges of sedition—one after the Sarbat Khalsa, which was organised on November 10, 2015, in Chaba village in Amritsar district, and another after the firing incident at Bargari in Faridkot district where a congregation was held at Behbul Kalan village after the incident of sacrilege.
Justice gill commission observed, “We have gone through the statements of Baljit Singh Daduwal and the investigating officers, and also listened to the speech, delivered by complainant Baljit Singh Daduwal, in a pen drive submitted by complainant to the Commission. Nothing seditious has been said by him, nor has he instigated any violence.”
The panel added that the complainant had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court as well for bail wherein it was ruled that nothing seditious was said by the complainant.
“As challan in both these FIRs has not been presented in the court, FIR dated December 6, 2015, and FIR dated November 12, 2015, be cancelled after taking order from appropriate Court,” ordered the Commission.