Harjinder Singh Dhami resigns as SGPC chief on 'moral grounds'

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami has resigned from his post.

Dhami's resignation came days after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh strongly condemned the dismissal of services of Giani Harpreet Singh as the jathedar of Damdama Sahib by the SGPC.

In a hurriedly called media briefing, Dhami said he is committed to the Akal Takht.

Dhami has demanded that he also be removed from the seven-member committee formed by the Shiromani Akali Dal. He has submitted his resignation to the SGPC executive committee.

Referring to a February 13 Facebook post of Jathedar Raghbir Singh on the termination of services of Giani Harpreet Singh, Dhami said he wrote that his removal was "highly condemnable" and "unfortunate".

"I being 'pardhan' (president of SGPC) take responsibility and resign from the post on moral grounds with immediate effect," he said while addressing the media in Amritsar.

Dhami said he had written to the Akal Takht Jathedar to relieve him from his position in the seven-member committee formed to supervise the new membership drive of the SAD.