Declare won’t ally with BJP in future, ex-Jathedar Harpreet Singh dares SAD

Former Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh today challenged Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders to give an undertaking that they shall never forge an alliance with the BJP.

Giani Harpreet Singh lashed out at the SAD during a programmed in Nakodar, which was attended by ex-legislator of SAD Gurpartap Singh Wadala, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and ex-president of SGPC Jagir Kaur.

He alleged that for three days post the December 2 Akal Takht edict, SAD leaders kept pestering him to make amendments in it and promised that he would be reinstated as the Akal Takht Jathedar, the additional charge he had held earlier.

“On December 6, they started my character assassination. I was branded as associated with the BJP. My pictures with the leaders of saffron party were flashed on the social media by the leaders of the party, which once had a tie-up with the BJP. While Akalis themselves flaunt their pictures with the big BJP leaders, a different connotation was drawn of my pictures with the party leaders,” he said.

Giani Harpreet Singh also flayed the SAD-controlled SGPC for not consulting various Nihang bodies and other Sikh leaders while making the selection of Jathedars. “A new precedent has been set by not taking the Panth along in major decisions and big events like installation of Jathedars. It shall have dire consequences in the years to come,” he said.

Meanwhile, new Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj tried to broker peace with the expelled Jathedars, Nihang bodies and various Sikh organisations ahead of the March 14 Hola Mohalla event. At a programme in Gurdwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi, he said, “I welcome all my Sikh brethren to Anandpur Sahib on March 14. I can walk barefoot to any Nihang body, Sikh sect or Taksal with an invitation to the festivities pertaining to the Khalsa Panth. I shall welcome them all with open arms. They are all my community.”

Some representatives of Nihang bodies, including Sant Balbir Singh, had expressed reservations over the way Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj was secretively installed as Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar, hours ahead of the scheduled time of installation on Monday.