SAD drive ‘fake’, won’t hesitate to join politics: Giani Harpreet

Sacked Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib Giani Harpreet Singh on Friday called as “bogus” the month-long membership drive launched by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and said he won’t hesitate to join active politics if “compelled” to do so.

The statement came four days after the SAD-dominated Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which appoints Jathedars of three Sikh Takhts in Punjab, dismissed Giani Harpreet Singh from the post over allegations of “moral misconduct”.

The launch of the membership drive by SAD had drawn criticism after the party rejected the Akal Takht-constituted seven-member panel to carry out the campaign, which was to be followed by party restructuring.

The panel formed by the temporal seat included rebel Akali leaders, who had launched a movement — Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar — seeking leadership change and reforms in the party.

Questioning the SAD drive, Giani Harpreet Singh said “bogus” members were being inducted into the party. He said when all party leaders were united, SAD was polled only 18 lakh votes in the Lok Sabha elections last year.

“How could SAD claim to have inducted 35 lakh members now? This drive appears to be a bogus exercise,” he told reporters.

He said though he had no political aspirations, he would not hesitate from trying his hand in active politics.

“I am a student of religion. But if the ‘bhagora dal’ (referring to SAD for not complying with Akal Takht directives) compelled me to come on the political pitch, I would not hesitate,” he said.

He also slammed SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder for skipping the February 13 meeting called by the Takht-constituted panel over the membership drive.

“SAD was constituted keeping in mind the Sikh politics and ethics. This was the regional party that used to set examples for other regional outfits to follow. With the passage of time, it has compromised with its principles,” he said. The dismissed Jathedar said the Akali leaders who fought for the Panth were “sidelined and replaced” by those who indulged in illegal sand mining and drug peddling.