DSGMC seeks excommunication of former president Sarna over ‘anti-Panthic’ remarks

A delegation of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) on Wednesday submitted a formal complaint to the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, seeking immediate excommunication of former DSGMC president Harvinder Singh Sarna from the Panth. The delegation met officials at Sri Akal Takht Secretariat and handed over a memorandum from DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka and general secretary Jagdeep Singh Kahlon, objecting to Sarna’s recent remarks and actions.

The complaint pertains to Sarna’s reported meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and his alleged statement suggesting forgiveness to the Congress party over the 1984 military operation at Sri Darbar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Operation Blue Star), as well as the November 1984 anti-Sikh violence. The DSGMC leaders further alleged that during an interaction on a private television channel, Sarna described Sri Akal Takht Sahib, established by the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Sahib, as merely a “building”, a remark they termed highly objectionable and hurtful to Sikh sentiments. They claimed the statements had triggered widespread resentment among the Sikh community.

In their memorandum, the committee leaders also accused Sarna of previously defying directives issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib. They further alleged that Sarna had earlier used derogatory language for a scholars’ committee constituted under the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and had expressed no regret over his remarks.

Stating that Sarna’s actions and statements were “anti-Panthic” in nature, the DSGMC leadership urged the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to take appropriate disciplinary action and immediately expel him from the Sikh Panth.

Members of the delegation included Atma Singh Lubana, Sukhwinder Singh Babbar, Baljinder Singh, Raminder Singh Sweeta, Sukhbir Singh Kalra, and Manjit Singh Bhoma, chairman of Dharam Prachar Committee, Punjab, among others.