CHANDIGARH: Giani Harpreet Singh Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib today submitted his resignation and blamed Virsa Singh Valtoha and other Akali Dal leaders for giving threats to him and his family.
Valtoha has alleged that Giani Harprett Singh was working under the influence of RSS and BJP. Jathedar said that he never expected Valtoha would steep so low. He said that some SAD leaders were also hounding him and calling his caste.
Giani Harpreet Singh was part of five Sikh High priests who had ordered the SAD acting president Balwinder Singh Bhundar to expel Virsa Singh Valtoha from he party for ten years. SAD however ignored the directive of Akal Takht and allowed Valtoha to submit his resignation.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had earlier alleged that Valtoha came to his residence to threat him. It was after Valtoha threatened Akal Takht Jathedar, he was summoned by five Singh high priests and punitive action was taken against him. Valtoha then tarted vilification campaign against Giani Harpreet Singh and other Jathedars and alleged that they were conspiring to expel SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal from party. He questioned the Akal Takhat for delaying the verdict on Sukhbir Badal.
It is understood that Valtoha was assigned the task of defaming Sikh high priests by Sukhbir Singh Badal. He has been fearing that Sikh high priests may take some rough action against him. Attack on Jathedar's credibility was aimed to pre-empt any harsh action against SAD president. SAD has branded Sikh high priests 'agents' of RSS and BJP. The step taken by Sukhbir Badal is another political blunder committed by him.
Sukhbir Badal is facing wrath of Akal Takhat for his past anti-Sikh actions during Parkash Singh Badal government. He was accused of forcing Sikh high priests to pardon dera sacha sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, maintaining social relations with him, not acting against dera head in blasphemy case registered against him. He was also accused of appointing infamous cop Sumedh Singh Saini as DGP Punjab, patronising another controversial cop Muhammed Izhar Alam and failing to take action in hundreds of cases of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and ordering firing on peaceful Sikh protestors at Behbal Kalan.
The rebel SAD leaders had submitted a complaint to Akal Takht to take action against Sukhbir Badal for his anti-Sikh actions. Akal Takhat had summoned him and he was declared Tankhahia (guilty of religious misconduct). Sukhbir Bdal had already submitted his reply and apologised for all his mistakes.The final verdict against him is awaited.