Clip of arguments between Giani Harpreet Singh, Valtoha creates salvo

A 27-second video clip of arguments between the ‘expelled’ SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh leaked during the former’s appearance before the five Sikh high priests at Akal Takht Secretariat in October. The origin of this video clip is not known, yet Valtoha has shared it on his social media page.

In this 27-second video clip, Valtoha, in the presence of five high priests, had questioned Giani Harpreet Singh if he shared allegiance with the BJP-led Centre and RSS. Triggered over this, Giani Harpreet Singh appeared to have lost his cool.

In an aggressive tone, he replied that if anyone attends a telephonic call, does it imply an allegiance. Later, he allegedly used ‘abusive’ words purportedly against the Akalis saying, "Your leaders also speak to other party leaders. What if he (as Akal Takht Jathedar) did so?"

Giani Harpreet Singh, speaking to the mediapersons at Bathinda, clarified that the ‘abusive’ word he used was actually a word of ‘Malwai’ dialect, adding that it should not be considered ‘abusive’.

He claimed that he had got all the recordings deleted from the cameras of the Akal Takht secretariat, SGPC and elsewhere, except a single recording of the whole conversation of a few hours that was transferred in a pendrive. He said he had handed over this pendrive to the Akal Takht Jathedar. “I have no idea how and who got this clip leaked,” he said. He also said the whole video of the conversation should be released in public domain.

Giani Harpreet Singh alleged that after the Akal Takht’s verdict over Akalis, he was being targeted regularly. “I want to make it clear to the troll army that I would not bow down. An old domestic dispute was unnecessarily being raked up to defame me. I would have no objection if I was removed from the Jathedar’s post,” he said.

Meanwhile, Valtoha said, “It appeared to have been captured by an unknown person through a mobile phone. When I was present at Akal Takht Secretariat, there were four or five unfamiliar persons there. I do not recognise them.” He claimed that he, too, received the video and shared it on his social media. He said, “It was just a small clip. The whole video recording should be released to reveal the truth. Giani Harpreet Singh was very abusive throughout.”

On October 15, the five high priests, led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, had summoned Valtoha and ordered his expulsion from SAD for the next ten years for allegedly indulging in character assassination of Takht Jathedars after he shared a post on social media alleging that Giani Harpreet Singh shared ‘allegiance with the BJP-RSS’.