Golden Temple priest resigns from religious services

Sikh priest Balbir Singh who yesterday refused to offer 'Siropa' (robe of honour) to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal during his visit to the sanctum sanctorum of Golden Temple, today resigned from his religious services.
Balbir Singh said today, he got his transfer orders for Machiwara Gurdwara in Ludhiana but he preferred to resign from his services.
Singh said he joined services in Golden Temple in 1986 and since then he had been serving there but at the end of his service he would not prefer to go to Ludhiana and therefore chose to resign today.
He had earlier 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 yesterday refused the traditional 'Siropa' by the Sikh 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.