Another clip of spat between Valtoha, ex-Jathedar surfaces

Another video clip showing arguments between expelled SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha and former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Hapreet Singh has surfaced. The arguments took place when Valtoha had appeared before the Sikh clergy at the Akal Takht Secretariat in October last year.

Though the origin of the 58-second clip is a mystery, Valtoha shared it on his social media page ‘only to testify that this clip was authentic and was captured during my conversation with the high priests’.

He said he had no inkling of how the video clip was leaked. “The meeting that lasted for over an hour and a half was videographed. I have been demanding that the whole video-recording should be placed in public domain,” he said.

Earlier, an identical 27-second video clip had gone viral on social media platforms on December 18.

On October 15, the five Sikh high priests, led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, had summoned Valtoha. They had ordered his expulsion from the SAD for the next 10 years for allegedly indulging in character assassination of Takht Jathedars after he shared a post on social media alleging that Giani Harpreet Singh had ‘allegiance with the BJP-RSS’.

In the fresh clip, Giani Harpreet Singh replied to Valtoha’s query on his alliance with the BJP and other party leaders. Giani Harpreet Singh accepted that during his stint as acting Jathedar of Akal Takht, he was in touch with Amit Shah and other Congress leaders too, including a former Chief Minister, as he possessed the ‘capabilities’.

The clip showed Valtoha asking the other Jathedars if any of them had ever received calls from opposition political parties. Giani Harpreet Singh intervened saying, ‘None other, but I got calls as I had capabilities. I admit to having telephonic conversations with Amit Shah and the then CM from the Congress. Amit Shah met me here in person and I had exchanged my contact number with his PA. I had received calls when I was Akal Takht Jathedar, yet it did not mean that I used to talk to them daily, but occasionally — once in a six months or a year.”

Valtoha said, “By saying that since he had the capabilities, he had association with all political leaders, particularly those in the opposition, did he mean that the other Jathedars were short of capabilities?”