Jalandhar: Even as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has been accusing Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma of collusion with BJP and branding him a “tool of the central govt and
agencies”, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami appears to be offering an olive branch to
the taksal chief. Dhami attended a function organised by the taksal chief at Sarmastpur near Jalandhar on Sunday.Dhami is believed to have good relations with Dhumma, and he has been mentioning it prominently in his statements, despite attacks by SAD leaders. On Friday, when Dhumma led a protest against SGPC outside its head office in the Darbar Sahib complex, and the protest was blocked outside an entrance to the complex, Dhami made it a point to go to the dharna site and sit with Dhumma and others. He then received their memorandum.
A few SGPC members known for their proximity to the taksal also accompanied him.This gesture was in complete contrast to the handling of the in-house affairs of the general house meeting of the SGPC, where dissident members alleged that they were neither allowed to speak nor the resolution signed by at least 40 members, regarding the sacking of takht jathedars, was discussed in the meeting.
Former SGPC general secretary Kiranjot Kaur had said the microphone was snatched and members from Sukhbir Singh Badal’s camp used cheap language and tactics. After Friday’s meeting, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur repeatedly said Dhami and Dhumma were together. SAD launched a frontal attack on Dhumma before Friday’s meeting. After the meeting, it continued taking aim at the taksal chief. Sharing a video statement of SGPC member Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar, SAD posted on its Facebook page:
“Jhabbar talks straight to the tools of Delhi who came to gherao Darbar Sahib at the Centre’s direction.”SAD general secretary and national spokesperson Parambans Singh Romana posted two pictures one with the late Parkash Singh Badal and the other with Maharashtra CM Devinder Fadnavis. “Baba Dhumma —sarkaran naal baharaan (good times with govts),” he wrote.
On Sunday, Dhami attended the taksal’s function at its branch Maharashtra CM Devinder Fadnavis. “Baba Dhumma —
sarkaran naal baharaan (good times with govts),” he wrote.
On Sunday, Dhami attended the taksal’s function at its branch gurdwara on the Jalandhar-Pathankot road near Sarmastpur. Former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, who is now head granthi of Darbar Sahib, and former Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Sultan Singh, whose sacking triggered the storm and whose reinstatement is being sought by the taksal chief and others, also attended the function.Sections in SAD believe that apart from Dhami’s old proximity to the taksal, his offering an olive branch to the taksal could be part of a firefighting exercise.
At a time when most SAD leaders have been staying silent on Damdami Taksal, former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee chief Paramjit Singh Sarna appears to be at the centre of acerbic attacks by the taksal’s ecosystem on social media, as newly appointed acting Akal Takht jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj is considered close to him.(Courtesy I.P.Singh)