Dispute Erupts Over Installation of Dr Manmohan Singh’s Portrait in Sikh Museum; Rajoana Writes to SGPC
Babushahi Bureau
Patiala, May 23, 2025 – A fresh controversy has erupted over the decision to install a portrait of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the Sikh Museum, with Balwant Singh Rajoana, currently lodged in Patiala jail, raising strong objections.
In a letter addressed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Rajoana expressed his opposition to the move, stating that Dr Manmohan Singh, during his tenure, represented a political party that he termed responsible for atrocities against Sikhs.
Rajoana, a convict in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, wrote that the inclusion of Dr Singh’s portrait in the Sikh Museum is inappropriate and unjustified. "Dr Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister of a party responsible for the Sikh genocide. His portrait has no place in a museum that represents the pride and sacrifices of the Sikh community," Rajoana stated in his letter.
The SGPC is yet to issue an official response to the letter. However, the matter has already sparked debate within religious and political circles regarding the criteria and considerations for showcasing individuals in Sikh institutions.