Akalis seek inquiry into DSGMC collection of gold for palanquin

New Delhi, Jul 12 (UNI) The Akali Dal (Panthic) today sought an inquiry by a Central government agency into the huge collection of money for purchasing gold for palanquin which was built by Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC)for installing it in Nanakana Sahib gurdwara, the birth place of Guru Nanak, now in Pakistan.

'' Most of funds got ''misappropriated'' as the palanquin (Paalki) which was taken to Pakistan a DSGMC-sponsored procession beginning from Delhi to Wagah Border in Punjab, carry platings worth only one-and-a-half kg of gold against claims of DSGMC president H S Sarna and his elder brother and Akali leader Paramjit Singh Sarna,'' said party president Manjit Singh'Greater-Kailash' in statement here.

The Sarna brothers' claim on quantity of gold used for the palanquin was also refuted by the Pakistan Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC) which had already got it examined by the experts, Mr Singh said.

The palanquin was not installed at the proper place, for which it was designed, the Akali leader added.

The Sarna bothers collected funds for repair of gurdwaras in Pakistan and made a 'Baba' incharge of the 'karseva' for the purpose. But that Baba decamped with the money and had disappeared, he added.

''All this and why the funds were not deposited in the DSGMC accounts, are required to be probed thoroughly,'' Mr Singh said adding he would approach appropriate authorities for action against the Sarna brother's who had "duped' the Indian govenrment and the Sikh community to earn political milage out of the entire 'religious excercise'.

UNI JSS PA HT1752