It's BJP vs SAD after Akal Takht Jathedar suggests 2019 Lok Sabha polls were rigged

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, November 18

A fresh row has erupted between the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal over the former’s sharp reaction to Akal Takht Jathedar’s statement suggesting that the 2019 Lok Sabha polls were rigged.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had said that an “EVM government was ruling the country”.

Senior BJP leader Harjeet Singh Grewal called Singh “an employee” of a political family and termed him “mentally ill”. Grewal said the Jathedar had no business making political statements or calling a democratically-elected government an “EVM government”.

The Shiromani Akali Dal has termed the BJP’s statement as “a dangerous and unprecedented attack on the temporal seat of the Sikhs”.

“Such provocative statements can harm the law and order situation,” said SAD spokesperson Dr Daljeet Singh Cheema in a video message.

Dr Cheema said Jathedar had talked about forces that were trying to weaken the Sikh Panth and those forces stand exposed.

‘Irresponsible remarks’

The SAD asked its former ally BJP to take note of the irresponsible utterances being made against Sri Akal Takth Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and ensure the honour of the head of the Sikh community’s highest temporal seat was not undermined in any manner.

Taking strong notice of Grewal’s outburst, SAD senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema said it was unfortunate that the former had not only insulted the Singh Sahab who spoken about the challenged being faced by the Sikh community at the historic 100 year celebration of the SGPC at Sri Amritsar Sahib on Tuesday, but had also hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community worldwide.

“The BJP central leadership should rebuff Mr Harjit Grewal immediately and the latter should take back his utterances and express regret for the same”.

Cheema said it was shocking that the State BJP leader had bad mouthed the Singh Sahab who had had only made the Sikh community aware of anti-Sikh forces who were striking against its principles, religious places and institutions.

 “It seems Mr Harjit Grewal feels he is the guilty party and has only exposed himself by his utterances”.

Stating that Grewal or other BJP leaders should not try to take on the Sri Akal Takth which was the supreme temporal and spiritual seat of the Sikhs, the SAD leader wholeheartedly welcomed the address given by the Singh Sahib at the “panthic” gathering on Tuesday.

He said the Sri Akal Takth Jathedar had earned the respect of the entire community by speaking up for minorities and highlighting how successive central governments had tried to break the SGPC.

“He has made the Sikh panth aware that such efforts are afoot again and that it should face them unitedly”. He said the Singh Sahib had spoken authoritatively and given historical references in his speech to tell the ‘sangat’ about the glorious history of the SGPC.

“Moreover Singh Sahib has rightly mentioned that the concept of ‘Miri -Piri which symbolised worldly and spiritual authority was part of the Sikh tradition and would remain so. There is no reason for anyone to be perturbed by this. Instead everyone should give due respect to the Singh Sahab as well as the seat he represents”, Cheema added.