The Shiromani Akali Dal reacted strongly to the statement of the Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira urging the SGPC to clarify the authenticity of the relics pertaining to Pir Budhu Shah, being displayed for “Sangat-Darshan” in Punjab these days and said that it seems that the Congress leader has lost his mental balance in search of ‘news’ daily to highlight himself. He is playing with the sentiments of the people and has deeply hurt the religious feelings of the people of the state.
In a statement released from the party head office here today, the SAD Secretary and Spokesman and Punjab Education Minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said that it was highly condemnable act on part of Mr. Khaira for trying to create a row over the Darshan yatra only to derive political mileage out of the issue.
Giving facts about the case, Dr. Cheema said that these relics were in possession of Maharaja of Nabha and were on display in Heera Mahal at Nabha since independence. About 20 years ago the royal family sold off their palace and moved to Delhi. The descendents of Maharaja Nabha also took these precious relics along with them to Delhi. Later on a case was filed in Punjab and Haryana High court by the Sangat of Patiala District asserting that these relics are the property of Sikh Sangat of Nabha and should handed over to them. After hearing the case the honorable court decided that these relics cannot be handed over to any private petitioner and further directed that these be handed over to the state government. Dr. Cheema asked Mr. Khaira that why did he not speak earlier when these relics had been displayed for decades together ? He lamented that the Congress leader was now making cheap attempts like this only to score some brownie points politically.