Op Bluestar anniv: Jathedar to deliver ‘sandesh' amid opposition by Taksal
The controversy started after Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma announced his group would not permit the jathedar to deliver the message, citing that Giani Gargaj did not assume his position according to Sikh 'maryada' (religious code) and lacks community acceptance.
In a bid to defuse the situation, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami visited the Taksal headquarters on June 3 to hold talks with Dhumma. Dhami, who is reportedly close to the Taksal leadership, is working to prevent any confrontation at the Akal Takht during the sensitive event.
Despite the meeting, the deadlock remains unresolved.On Thursday, Dhumma reiterated his stance in a Facebook post, warning that if Giani Gargaj attempts to deliver the 'sandesh' or honour families of those killed during Operation Bluestar, his group would stage a protest. Dhumma also denied reports of a closed-door meeting with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
People familiar with the matter indicate that Giani Gargaj is determined to proceed with the traditional address, while the SGPC president is urging restraint to ensure the event passes off peacefully.The situation is further complicated by the involvement of Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), who has opposed Dhumma'scall for disruption and appealed for calm.
Some SAD leaders have also advised against the jathedar delivering the message under the current circumstances. However,speaking to the media on Wednesday, Giani Gargaj signalled that the ritual of'sandesh' delivery would continue and predicted that this year's event would be more peaceful than previous ones.
To avoid further provocation, the jathedar may forgo the customary honouring the families of Operation Bluestar victims with'siropas' (robe of honour), said people familiar with the developments.
Ishar Singh and Inderjit Singh, sons of slainmilitant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, have rejected any honour from Giani Gargaj and aligned themselves with Dhumma's stance. In response, Giani Gargaj said: 'If they don't want to accept siropa from me, I respect them because they are progeny of the great martyr.'
Radicals take out march
On the eve of the Operation Bluestar anniversary,the Dal Khalsa and its allies, including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Panth Sewak Jatha, took out a march in Amritsar and raised slogans. Starting from Burj Akali Phoola Singh, the march reached Golden Temple, where 'ardas'was performed at the Akal Takht.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
12 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
SGPC general house: Oppn to raise issue of ‘unceremonious' removal of jathedars
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) general house session on Tuesday is set to be a stormy affair with opposition members geared up to raise the issue of unceremonious removal of the Takht jathedars. The session was originally called by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to discuss the issue of maryada of Takhts (Sikh highest temporal seats), amid confrontation between Akal Takht and Takht Patna Sahib. The session was originally called by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami to discuss the issue of maryada of Takhts (Sikh highest temporal seats), amid confrontation between Akal Takht and Takht Patna Sahib. The issue was settled amicably, after both Takhts withdrew their decrees and Bihar-based Takht clergy accepted supremacy of the Akal Takht. There is still no clarity on the agenda of the meeting now, although the invite to SGPC members highlights 'maryada of Takhts' as the main issue to be discussed in the meeting to be held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall in the Golden Temple complex. The SGPC office-bearers also refused to give any clarity about the issues to be discussed during the meeting. SGPC member Amrik Singh Shahpur, who is part of the opposition, said the removal of jathedars also relates to 'maryada' 'The unceremonious removal of the jathedars in recent months is also a violation of maryada. We will try to raise the issue and hold the present SGPC office-bearers accountable for their actions, which hurt a large segment of the community,' Shahpur said. SGPC, which is controlled by the Sukhbir Singh Badal faction, has a 191-member general house. Out of this, 170 are elected by Sikh voters in the general elections, 15 are co-opted, five are sitting jathedars (heads of Sikh temporal seats), and one is the head granthi of the Golden Temple. However, the jathedars and head granthis don't have the right to vote. There are a total of 110 constituencies in Punjab, out of which 47 segments are represented by two members each, while 30 constituencies are reserved for women candidates. As the general elections of the SGPC have not been conducted for the last 14 years, nearly 30 members have expired, and two have resigned.
The Hindu
42 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Akali Dal protests against Punjab govt's land pooling policy
As part of its series of State-wide protests, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) members held a demonstration on Monday against the Punjab government's land pooling policy in Bathinda town. Terming the land pooling policy as anti-farming community, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that the policy was an attempt by the ruling government in the State to grab farmers' land. Addressing a gathering, he said, 'We will not allow one inch of land to be acquired under the AAP government's land grabbing scheme. We will continue our agitation till the land pooling scheme is withdrawn.' The Punjab government, in June this year, introduced a land pooling policy in the state to promote planned and sustainable development. The policy aims to involve landowners, promoters, and companies as stakeholders in the development process and to increase interest in land pooling among landowners. Mr. Badal alleged that the State government was being run through the AAP's Delhi-based leadership, and hence, Punjab's and its people's interests were being sidelined. 'Farmers would be the worst sufferers of the policy. Only 11,000 acres of land have been acquired in Punjab over the last 25 years, out of which 3,000 acres are yet to be developed. Similarly, only 28,000 acres of land were acquired to establish Chandigarh seventy-five years ago, out of which 8,000 acres are still vacant. How can the AAP government think it will be able to develop 44,000 acres with 24,000 acres in Ludhiana alone?' he said. 'Farmers would face long years of waiting for the development of their land, which would not only destroy them but also the agri-economy of the areas where acquisition would be done,' he added.
Hindustan Times
42 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Satwant Kaur, Giani Harpreet emerge as contenders for SAD prez's post
Bibi Satwant Kaur and former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh have emerged as frontrunners for the top post as the five-member committee, constituted by the Akal Takht on December 2 last year to supervise the recast of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), gears up for its delegate session. Giani Harpreet Singh While one of the group, consisting two members of Takht appointed panel, are backing Kaur, who is daughter of Amrik Singh, the other faction, led by a leader who led the SAD rebel faction who approached Akal Takht for course correction, has puts its weight behind Giani Harpreet Singh to be at the helm of the new faction of SAD. The election for the office bearers has been fixed for August 11; however, so far, a venue has not been finalised. The delegates elected from among 26 lakh members recruited by the five-member committee will elect the office bearers. 'We are trying for a consensus, and every senior leader will get a respectable role in the party matters,' Manpreet Singh Ayali said on being asked about the presidential candidate. Ayali refused to comment on his choice of the top leader and said, 'The delegates will have a final say.' Bibi Satwant Kaur was serving in a senior position in the education wing of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and comes from a panthic family. Her father, Amrik Singh, was an associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and was killed during Operation Bluestar. Amrik's father, Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, remained head of Damdami Taksal. She was among the seven members named by Akal Takht, which included SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, former president Kirpal Singh Badungar, Ayali, Jhundan, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Santa Singh Umaidpur. Dhami and Badungar resigned, after which the five members started a membership drive in March. Giani Harpreet Singh, who was jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, was one of the key curators of the December 2 edict. He was later removed by SGPC but continued to support the membership drive and was also critical of the SAD leaders, including party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Wadala said that, as per feedback and sentiment in the panthic circles, Giani Harpreet is emerging as a choice for the top post. 'He is an intellectual, possesses panthic ideals. He has not compromised with principles and traditions,' Wadala said. Giani Harpreet Singh also faced criticism from the Sukhbir-led SAD, which alleged that he had a tacit understanding with the BJP.
