The Akal Takht secretariat on Tuesday refuted the allegation that Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargaj had bent to touch feet of an Akali leader during a religious programme held recently in Batala.
The in-charge of the Akal Takht secretariat, Bagicha Singh, condemned “mischievous” elements for allegedly distorting and circulating on social media a video of Jathedar Gargaj from a recent Gurmat Samagam held in Batala.
He said the Jathedar strictly adhered to Sikh principles and religious code of conduct and could not, under any circumstances, act against it.
Refuting claims made in the viral video, he clarified that the portrayal suggesting the Jathedar bowed at the feet of an Akali leader was incorrect.
Explaining the actual sequence of events, he said after addressing the congregation upon the request of the stage secretary, Jathedar Gargaj was about to sit after receiving siropa (honour).
Meanwhile, the stage secretary invited the concerned Akali leader — who was present on the stage alongside the Jathedar — to speak.
However, the Akali leader declined, saying that since the Jathedar had already addressed the gathering, there was no need for him to speak. In the full video, the Akali leader can also be seen moving the microphone aside.
During this moment, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, who was in the process of sitting down, suddenly stood up again and joined other dignitaries standing on the stage.
Bagicha Singh said that this sequence was maliciously edited and presented out of context with malafide intention.
