Amritsar, Oct. 11 -- Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj has directed Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member Karnail Singh Panjoli to refrain from meeting Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann over the issue of release of Sikh prisoners, citing the highest Sikh temporal seat's declaration describing Mann as "anti-Guru" and "anti-Panth". The direction came in response to Panjoli's letter in which he sought permission to attend the October 12 meeting called by the CM at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh, with Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, which has been spearheading a sit-in for the release of Sikh prisoners on the Chandigarh-Mohali border since January 2023. As a member and representative of the SGPC, a Sikh religious institution, it was his primary responsibility to comply with the directives of Akal Takht and uphold them, said Gargaj in the response. The letter also directed those who met the CM to ask their conscience whether a person described as "anti-Guru" could deliver justice to Sikh prisoners. Akal Takht spokesperson alleged that the Punjab government had taken no steps on the issue during its tenure and was now attempting to gain political mileage by offering assurances.HTC...