Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur Accused of Violating Sikh Code of Conduct

Strategic Insights -

Former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha on Tuesday shared a video of Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur visiting a centre of the Dera Sacha Sauda, a sect headed by rape-murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The video, originally uploaded by a social media account, shows Dr Baljit Kaur bowing her head and offering prayers at the Dera. Pictures of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim are also seen in the video. Valtoha claimed that Dr Baljit Kaur's act is a clear violation of the edict (hukamnama) issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority. The edict had formally excommunicated the Dera in 2007. Valtoha demanded that "appropriate religious action" be taken against Dr Baljit Kaur, who is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and holds several key portfolios in the Punjab Cabinet.

Key Takeaways:

  • Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Baljit Kaur visited a centre of the Dera Sacha Sauda, a sect headed by rape-murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in a video shared by former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha.
  • The video, originally uploaded by a social media account, shows Dr Baljit Kaur bowing her head and offering prayers at the Dera, a clear violation of the Sikh code of conduct (maryada).
  • Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is currently serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples and is also an accused in the 2015 sacrilege case in Punjab.
  • The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader claimed that Sri Akal Takht Sahib had formally excommunicated the Dera in 2007, and now Dr Baljit Kaur should face "appropriate religious action".
  • Dr Baljit Kaur is a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and holds several key portfolios in the Punjab Cabinet, including social security, women and child development, social justice, and minorities' empowerment.

Statistics:

  • 20 years: The jail term being served by Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for raping two of his disciples.
  • 2007: The year in which Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, formally excommunicated the Dera.
  • 2015: The year in which the sacrilege case took place in Punjab, for which Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is an accused.
  • 1: The number of video shared by former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha showing Dr Baljit Kaur visiting the Dera Sacha Sauda.

Sources:

  • IE Online Media Services Pvt. Ltd., distributed by Contify.com