He also sought resignation of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar, who had expressed doubts over the relics.

Meanwhile, tension gripped the area, when Jhinda tried to hold a dharna in front of the SGPC office. The SGPC functionaries, including executive member Rajinder Singh Mehta, told him that holding protests was banned inside the Golden Temple complex.

Interestingly, Darbar Sahib manager Harbhajan Singh later honoured Jhinda with a siropa. “By raising doubts over the authenticity of the relics, Makkar has committed a blasphemy. I will go to the court against him,” he said.

The relics that were part of Shukrana Yatra, undertaken by Jhinda, included the white horse, which is direct descendent of the one that Guru Gobind Singh rode, sandals and some personal belongings of the Guru.

The HSGPC (ad hoc) has been facing a vertical split with its vice-president Didar Singh Nalvi openly revolting against Jhinda’s leadership.