SGPC averts major crisis, rejects Sikh high priest’s resignation; Akali Dal on defensive

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Thursday (October 17) averted a major escalation in the crisis emerging out of the confrontation between former Akali leader Virsa Singh Valtoha and the Sikh clergy by rejecting the resignation of Takht Damadama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh.

The SGPC move came after jathedar of the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, Giani Raghbir Singh, threatened the premiere Sikh body that the remaining Sikh high priests will also resign if the resignation of Giani Harpreet Singh was accepted.

Akal Takht stands firm

Hours after Giani Harpreet Singh tendered his resignation, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh alleged that Valtoha was continuously targeting the Sikh clergy on social media. He had also alleged that Valtoha had asked him not to take any decision against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Also Read: Akal Takht directs Akali Dal to expel Valtoha for 'character assassination' of Sikh clergy

“Such an incident took place for the first time in the history of ‘Panth’ that the family of a jathedar was targeted. Making inappropriate comments against the daughters of a jathedar does not behove a Sikh,” he said in a video message.

Takht Damdama Sahib is one of the five takhts or seat of temporal authority of Sikhs located at Talwandi Sabo in Bathinda district of Punjab.

SGPC’s damage control

Turning down his resignation, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said, “The SGPC has followed the edicts and guidelines of the Sikh high priests who lead the community. They have been given due respect and it will remain intact.”

Terming the recent developments as “community crisis”, he said, “Giani Harpreet Singh has provided commendable services as jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib and acting jathedar of Akal Takht. We give him due respect and can’t afford to lose his leadership at this critical juncture. Therefore, I decline his resignation. I have conveyed this to him over phone. The SGPC needs his services. I request him to continue to lead us.”

Sounding a word of caution, Dhami said, “I request all to not make any statement publicly. If anyone has any objection, he or she should raise the issue internally. The community is in crisis.” He also appealed to Valtoha not to utter anything against the Sikh high priests.

Family targeted: Jathedar

Giani Harpreet Singh had tendered his resignation on Wednesday (October 16), a day after the five Sikh high priests, including him, directed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar to expel Valtoha from the party for 10 years for “resorting to character assassination” of the Sikh clergy.

Announcing his decision to quit on Wednesday, an emotional Giani Harpreet Singh had said, “Valtoha was indulging in the character assassination of Panj Singh Sahiban (five Sikh high priests) on a regular basis. So, they pronounced the decision against him on Tuesday. However, he has not relented even after it and is targeting me. Crossing all limits, he is passing on messages to me through different sources. Threats are being issued against my family, including my daughters. My caste is being examined. I never expected this from him. He is doing so after dubbing me an agent of the RSS-BJP. This can’t be tolerated.”

Also Read: Why Akal Takht has declared Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal 'guilty of religious misconduct'

The jathedar also alleged that Valtoha is being shielded by the social media wing of the SAD and its leaders who lack knowledge of Panthic traditions. He also alleged that the SGPC was maintaining a silence on the issue. “In such a situation, I cannot serve at Takht Sahib. Apart from being a jathedar, I am also a father of daughters. I’m sending my resignation to the SGPC chief,” he had said.

Akali Dal tenders apology

Meanwhile, in another significant development, a SAD delegation led by its working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Thursday.

Addressing the media, senior Akali leader Daljit Singh Cheema said they apologised to the Jathedar for Valtoha’s remarks against the Sikh clergy, even though he is not part of the party now. Later, the SAD delegation also met Giani Harpreet Singh at Takht Damdama Sahib.

Valtoha had voluntarily resigned from the membership of SAD after the Sikh high priests directed the party leadership to expel him from the political outfit for a period of 10 years.

Cheema said they have also issued a stringent warning to all SAD activists that any disparaging remark against Sikh high priests, in any form, would not be tolerated. He revealed that he also had a word with Giani Harpreet Singh and assured him to initiate action, if he could reveal the name of any SAD worker involved in making offensive remarks against him or his kin.

On the other hand, a delegation of the SAD rebels led by Prem Singh Chandumajra met Giani Harpreet Singh at Damdama Sahib and extended their full support to him. Various Sikh outfits have also expressed solidarity with the jathedar while slamming Valtoha for his tirade against the Sikh clergy.

How it started

The ongoing crisis began after a group of Akali leaders raised a banner of revolt against SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and lodged a complaint against him before the Akal Takht for “mistakes committed by the party and its government” in Punjab from 2007-17.

Also Read: Apology is for mistakes, not for crimes: Punjab CM after Badal's letter to Akal Takht

Subsequently, the Akal Takht declared Sukhbir Badal ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct). However, the pronouncement of ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to him by the Sikh clergy is still pending.

Valtoha had alleged that the Sikh clergy is under pressure of the Union government, the BJP-RSS and Sikhs living abroad, over the issue. He had also questioned the delay by the Sikh clergy in announcing the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to the SAD chief.

Sukhbir camp's biggest concern is that he does not end up paying any political cost as several people in the community have been advocating that Sukhbir must pay a political cost, apart from usual religious punishment.

Sukhbir in trouble

The Akal Takht had on August 30 declared Sukhbir as ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) for the “mistakes” committed by his party's government from 2007 to 2017. Several instances of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib were reported during the previous SAD-BJP regime led by Parkash Singh Badal in 2015. Moreover, two persons were killed and several injured in police firing during the anti-sacrilege protests in Faridkot.

Sukhbir Badal was also accused of using his influence in 2015 to ensure that the Akal Takht granted pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with a blasphemy case. In 2007, the dera chief was accused of imitating the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. However, bowing to pressure from the Sikh community and hardliners, the Akal Takht later annulled its decision.

Restoring authority

In the current scenario, the Sikh high priests are facing the challenge of restoring the authority and credibility of the Akal Takht, which has faced erosion due to controversial decisions, particularly during the tenure of Jathedar Gurbachan Singh, who led the Sikh clergy in announcing unilateral pardon to the Sirsa dera chief in September 2015.

Also Read: Declared 'guilty of religious misconduct', Sukhbir Badal appears before Akal Takht

The SGPC, which is also known as mini-parliament of Sikhs, is dominated by the SAD which has been controlling it for decades now. It is the SGPC, virtually controlled by the Badals, which appoints the jathedars (Sikh high priests) of all five takhts.