The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s move to participate in the proposed auction of the bust of Maharaja Duleep Singh, to be held in the UK on April 19 has drawn flak from a section of the Sikhs all over the world.

They allege the SGPC’s attempt would amount to ‘idol worship’ which is not acceptable in Sikhism.

In a complaint to Akal Takht, Tarsem Singh, general secretary, British Sikh Council (BSC) said it would oppose any move of the SGPC to participate in the auction, slated for April 19 at 101 New Bond Street, United Kingdom. He alleged the bust of the Indian Prince and Sikh hero, Maharaja Duleep Singh, fashioned by British sculptor John Gibson almost 150 years ago was just a copy of the one installed in the Palace of Queen Victoria. The bust is estimated to sell for £25,000 to £35,000.

The SGPC has constituted a four-member committee to visit the UK to participate in the auction.

Scholar in Sikhism, Dr Prithipal Singh Kapur, a former PVC, Guru Nanak Dev university strongly criticising the move said Maharaja Duleep Singh was not a role model of the Sikh community. Dr Kapur said he was shocked at the ‘ill-conceived’ decision of the SGPC. He said Maharaja Duleep Singh an ‘apostate’ hence it would be a ‘useless exercise’ on the part of the SGPC.

The sculpture was produced in Rome in 1859-60. The story of Duleep Singh (1838-1893) is a tragic one of loss and of political manoeuvring by the British government and the British East India Company.

Some senior SGPC members also have reportedly conveyed their dismay at the decision of participating in the proposed auction. After Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, general secretary, Bibi Kiranjot Kaur reportedly has conveyed her displeasure at the decision of the SGPC. She is of the view the SGPC was formed after launching a movement against idol worship and it would be wrong to put the bust of Maharaja Duleep Singh in the Sikh museum of the Golden Temple.

However, despite a number of calls from the Sikhs all over the world, the Sikh Clergy have maintained studied silence over the decision.