Punjab: Banga MLA resigns as Conway chairman amid Guru Granth Sahib ‘saroop’ controversy

January 18, 2026

Chandigarh: Banga MLA Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi on Sunday announced his resignation as chairman of the Punjab State Container and Warehousing Corporation (Conway) and his resignation from cabinet rank. He said he was deeply hurt by the recent questions raised about the Raskhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib Gurudwara in Nawanshahr.

This resignation comes just days after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated that the Punjab Police’s Special Investigation Team, while investigating 328 missing Guru Granth Sahib ‘saroops’, had recovered 169 sacred ‘saroops’ from the Gurudwara. According to the Chief Minister, 139 of these ‘saroops’ have no official records, while only 30 have formal records. He made this statement on January 14 during the Maghi Mela in Muktsar.

Gurdwara Management Rejects Allegations
The management of the Raskhana Shri Nabh Kanwal Raja Sahib Gurdwara categorically rejected the Chief Minister’s claims, stating that all the ‘Saroops’ are properly registered and maintained in accordance with religious decorum.

Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi, a two-time Akali Dal MLA, joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2014. A disqualification petition is pending against him for defection. Despite this, the Bhagwant Mann government appointed him chairman of the Conveyor last year and granted him cabinet rank.

‘Sentiments of the Sangat Hurt’: Sukhi
In a video message released on Facebook, Sukhi said that the questions raised regarding religious decorum at the Gurdwara have hurt the sentiments of the Sangat.

He said, “I come here regularly to have darshan of Raja Sahib. A few days ago, it was reported that the Akhand Path Sahib was not performed according to decorum and that the saroops were not kept in accordance with decorum. This has hurt the sentiments of the Sangat and myself. For me, this place is God’s home.”

Announcing his resignation, he said, “Today I relinquish the cabinet rank given by the Punjab government and resign from the post of Chairman of Conveyor. I pray to God to give me the strength to present the truth to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party leadership.”