Second gurdwara movement to rid SGPC of Badals: Dhindsas

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, February 23

The Dhindsas today announced the second Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar (campaign) to rid the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) of the Badals during a Panthic rally organised under the banner of ‘Mahan Panthic Ikath’.

“In 1920, Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar was launched to free our Sikh shrines from Mahants, but today we have launched a second campaign to remove the Badals,” said Bir Devinder Singh, former Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

“I will not contest elections in the future and have launched a campaign to get the SGPC freed from the clutches of the Badals. First, we will win SGPC elections and then form government in Punjab by winning the 2022 Assembly elections. In the coming weeks, many more big guns from various political parties will join us,” said Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, expelled SAD leader and Rajya Sabha MP.

Various resolutions, including immediate termination of SAD president Sukhbir Badal from the post, high-level inquiry into financial scams in the SGPC, action to stop ‘misuse’ of the SAD by the Badals for commercial gains, strict punishment for sacrilege accused, among others, were passed.

Sukhbir’s ‘political antim ardas’ (political demise) remark made during his February 2 rally at the same venue came under sharp criticism from various leaders, who challenged him to justify his election as the SAD chief. Sukhbir had claimed that they had organised the rally to ensure ‘political antim ardas’ of the Dhindsas. “I pray for the long life of Parkash Singh Badal so that he could see the end of control of his family over the SAD and SGPC,” said MLA Parminder Dhindsa.

Various leaders, including Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, Ravi Inder Singh, Harsukhinder Singh, alias Bubby Badal, targeted the Badals for “misusing” SGPC funds for political gains, pardon to controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief and failure to arrest the sacrilege accused.

Former Akal Takhat Jathedar Ranjit Singh said no one should doubt the intention of leaders who had converged on the venue.

SAD spokesperson Winnerjit Goldy alleged the rally was sponsored by the Congress. Countering the allegations, the Dhindsas claimed everyone knew of the Badals’ tacit understanding with Capt Amarinder Singh. They claimed even three years after the formation of Congress government, the transport and cable businesses of the Badals were flourishing in Punjab.