Giani Harpreet Singh to continue as Jathedar
A day after the SGPC rejected the resignation of Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Hapreet Singh, he visited the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and submitted his consent to carry on the services as usual.
He held a closed-door meeting with the Akal Takht Jathedar and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh.
Later, he said that as per the directions of the Akal Takht Jathedar, he would continue to perform his services till the Almighty permitted. “But certainly, the support extended by the ‘Singh Sahibaan’ (Jathedars), and other Sikh organisations has scripted a chapter in the Sikh history about this unfortunate episode,” he said.
He said the issue was not the tussle between him and former SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha, but it was a question of preserving the prestige of the post occupied by him.
On resentment expressed by him against the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for keeping mum earlier, he said, “As a human being, when you are hurt, the emotions tend to pour out. But now, that issue is over. I am grateful to the Akal Takht and other Takht Jathedars, Panthic organisations, Sikh leaders and intellectuals who showed solidarity for the sake of honour of the Panthic ‘maryada’ and the esteemed post,” he said.
Valtoha, in his clarification submitted before the Five High Priests on October 15, had specifically targeted Giani Harpreet Singh alleging he had links with BJP-RSS leaders. Later, he made it public on various social media platforms.
In retaliation, Giani Harpreet Singh had offered resignation to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, which was turned down.
