Golden Temple priest refuses to honour Punjab CM

Amritsar: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was on Friday refused the traditional 'Siropa' (robe of honour) by a priest on duty at the Golden Temple.

Badal, accompanied by the senior Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) official, reached the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple to pay obeisance but the priest on duty Balbir Singh refused to offer 'Siropa' to the CM.

The senior SGPC officials, who were present on the spot, tried to coerce the priest but he refused to budge.

The same Sikh priest had refused to honour Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal with 'Siropa' on January 20 this year, alleging that Punjab government had failed to curb the series of sacrilege of holy Guru Granth Sahib in the state.

Badal was conferred the highest religious award "Panth Rattan Fakhar-e-Quam" (Jewel and Pride of the Sikh Panth) by Jatehdar Akal Takaht Gyani Gurbachan Singh in 2011.