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Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib—one of the 5 temporal seats of Sikhism—has resigned. In a video connection released connected Wednesday evening, helium announced his decision, citing threats made against his family. He accused Virsa Singh Valtoha of issuing these threats and criticised the Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) societal media helping for supporting Valtoha. He besides questioned the soundlessness of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) passim the episode.
The resignation comes a time aft erstwhile SAD spokesperson Virsa Singh Valtoha appeared earlier the Akal Takht. Valtoha had been summoned for claiming that the Jathedars were acting nether unit from the BJP, RSS, and Sikhs surviving overseas successful the substance of Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was declared tankhaiya by the Akal Takht. Valtoha failed to supply grounds to enactment his claim, and the Akal Takht directed the SAD to expel him for 10 years. Valtoha resigned from the party, and his resignation was accepted by SAD.
In his message, Giani Harpreet Singh said, “Both the cardinal and Punjab governments should instrumentality backmost the conveyance and information provided to me, arsenic I volition present unrecorded arsenic a humble Sikh and cannot spend specified security.”
Giani Harpreet Singh had besides served arsenic acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht from October 2018 to June 2023. He resigned from that presumption pursuing contention implicit his beingness astatine the engagement ceremonial of AAP person Raghav Chadha and histrion Parineeti Chopra. However, helium had served arsenic the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib since April 2017.
Notably, Giani Harpreet Singh attended Tuesday’s gathering astatine Sri Akal Takht Sahib. After the determination against him, Valtoha alleged that Giani Harpreet Singh had hijacked the gathering of the Jathedars and was the main unit down the decision.
In his video message, Giani Harpreet Singh appeared emotional, stating that Valtoha had continuously attacked his character, particularly targeting him some earlier and aft the expulsion decision.
“Valtoha has crossed each limits of decency by sending messages threatening to exposure my family, with derogatory comments adjacent being made astir my daughters, which is intolerable,” Giani Harpreet Singh said. “I americium not acrophobic of Valtoha, but profoundly wounded that the societal media helping of the Shiromani Akali Dal and definite low-ranking Akali leaders, who person small cognition of Panthic traditions, are backing Valtoha’s actions. This is precise painful.”
Addressing the SGPC arsenic “my institution,” Giani Harpreet Singh expressed regret implicit its soundlessness connected the matter, saying that nether these circumstances, helium could nary longer service arsenic Jathedar. “I americium a Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, but besides a begetter to my daughters. I americium sending my resignation to the president of the SGPC, asking for it to beryllium accepted.”
He further accused Valtoha of making caste-based remarks and sending vile messages, saying, “I ne'er expected Valtoha to stoop truthful low.”
On the allegations linking him to the RSS, Giani Harpreet Singh said that Valtoha, having failed successful his effort to defame him with baseless claims of being an “RSS agent,” had resorted to soiled tactics.
Thanking the SGPC, Giani Harpreet Singh said that the committee had educated him, made him the caput granthi of Muktsar Sahib, and aboriginal appointed him arsenic acting president of the Akal Takht.
He concluded his connection by asking for forgiveness for immoderate mistakes helium mightiness person made and emphasised that the SGPC remains his institution, and helium volition ever stay loyal to it.
Reacting to his resignation, Gurpartap Wadala, convenor of Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar, and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, patron of Sudhar Lehar, said, “We entreaty to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami not to judge Jathedar Sahib’s resignation. I privation to archer Jathedar Sahib that the full Sikh assemblage is with him.” Dhindsa added, “I entreaty to the full enactment of the Shiromani Akali Dal to refrain from making decisions oregon taking actions that could harm the sovereignty of our Takhts.”
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, successful his ain video message, said, “I bid SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami not to judge the resignation of Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh. At the aforesaid time, I entreaty to Giani Harpreet Singh to reconsider his decision. If his resignation is accepted, we—the Jathedars of each the Takhts—will besides resign. This is the archetypal clip successful past that a Jathedar of a Takht is being subjected to quality assassination, with his household and daughters being targeted. The 1 who targets someone’s daughters cannot beryllium called a Sikh, but Valtoha has done this and adjacent posted contented connected societal media targeting Giani Harpreet Singh.”
Dal Khalsa person Kanwarpal Singh besides appealed to SGPC president Dhami not to judge the resignation, stating, “This is not the clip to resign but to prosecute successful dharam yudh. The Sikh assemblage needs Jathedars Raghbir Singh and Harpreet Singh. Sukhbir Singh Badal and his squad person defamed history, and Valtoha is conscionable a instrumentality being utilized by them.
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