AMRITSAR: The SGPC has approved its Rs 387-crore budget even as opposition members, including Haryana, staged a boycott here Saturday.

Sukhdev Singh Bhaur the moment general secretary asked for consent after completing his speech, but opposition members Manjit Singh Calcutta and Karnail Singh Panjoli stood up for seeking permission to give their comments.

However, on the denial of the same on the pretext that they had already leaked the budget before it was presented, the General House witnessed acrimonious scenes.

Following this Calcutta and SGPC chief Avtar Singh came on hot words. When Avtar Singh asked Calcutta to leave the venue, the latter challenged the authority of the former.

Members from Haryana, including Didar Singh Nalvi and Jagdish Singh Jhinda, who have been demanding separate gurdwara committee for Sikh shrines in their state, also joined hands to boycott the proceedings.

The opposition members alleged that the SGPC denied them the democratic right to comment on the budget speech, which was not fair.

Interestingly, Jathedar, Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, and Giani Gurbachan Singh, head granthi, Golden Temple, were seen taking a nap when the SGPC chief was addressing the members.

Meanwhile Panjoli alleged that the House was being mislead because it was a deficit budget. The opposition members said the fixed deposits of the SGPC had been encashed prematurely, causing financial loss. They threatened to move the High Court against the arbitrary approach of the SGPC to pass the budget without taking other members into confidence.

Though, the SGPC chief said the two executive members of the opposition were given ample opportunity to give their suggestions.

Giving details of the future plans, the SGPC chief said CCTVs and ultra-modern sound system was being set up in the Darbar Sahib complex. He said they had earmarked Rs 1.80 crore for the Institute of Advance Studies.

The General House also approved resolution for demanding mercy for Davinder Pal Singh Bhullar, who has been facing death sentence.