Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar quits, says expelled SAD leader issuing threats to family

The developments come a day after Akal Takht Jathedar issued directives to the SAD to expel Valtoha after holding him “guilty of character assassination” of the Sikh clergy. Following the directive, Valtoha on Tuesday resigned from the SAD.

In a video message, Giani Harpreet Singh accused Valtoha of targeting him by continuously indulging in his “character assassination”.

“I want to inform the Sikh community that the Akal Takht yesterday announced a decision against Virsa Singh Valtoha who had been continuously indulging in character assassination of the Sikh clergy. Even after this, he has been doing character assassination every hour. He is especially targeting me. Now he has crossed all limits of decency by threatening to expose my family, with derogatory comments even being made about my daughters, which is intolerable,” said Giani Harpreet Singh.

“I am not scared of Valtoha, but deeply hurt that the social media wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal and certain low-ranking Akali leaders, who have little knowledge of Panthic traditions, are backing Valtoha’s actions. This is very painful,” he added.

Addressing the SGPC as “my institution,” Giani Harpreet Singh expressed regret over its silence on the issue. In such a situation, he could not perform the duty as the jathedar, he said. “Where I am jathedar, I am also the father of daughters… Therefore, I am sending my resignation to the SGPC chief and I asked him to accept it,” said Giani Harpreet Singh.

He further accused Valtoha of making caste-based remarks and sending vile messages. On the allegations linking him to the RSS, Giani Harpreet Singh said that Valtoha, having failed in his attempt to defame him with baseless claims of being an “RSS agent,” had resorted to dirty tactics.

Hours later, Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh alleged that Valtoha was continuously targeting the Sikh clergy on social media.

“I order SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami not to accept the resignation of Jathedar Takht Damdama Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh. At the same time, I appeal to Giani Harpreet Singh to reconsider his decision. If his resignation is accepted, we—the Jathedars of all the Takhts—will also resign. This is the first time in history that a Jathedar of a Takht is being subjected to character assassination, with his family and daughters being targeted. The one who targets someone’s daughters cannot be called a Sikh, but Valtoha has done this and even posted content on social media targeting Giani Harpreet Singh,” he said in a video message.

Meanwhile, in a video message, Valtoha said that he stands tall with Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh and his family. “If there is any evidence against me of talking against his family, please provide me the same. I respect him and his family. I am deeply hurt after listening to allegations levelled against me. We can have a difference of opinion, but I can never think of disrespecting Jathedar Sahib or his family,” said Valtoha.

Reacting to Giani Harpreet Singh’s move, Gurpartap Wadala and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa of convenor of Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar, said, “We want to tell Jathedar Sahib that the entire Sikh community is with him….we appeal to the entire leadership of the Akali Dal to refrain from making decisions or taking actions that could harm the sovereignty of our Takhts.”

Dal Khalsa leader Kanwarpal Singh also appealed to SGPC chief not to accept the resignation, stating, “This is not the time to resign but to engage in dharam yudh. The Sikh community needs Jathedars Raghbir Singh and Harpreet Singh. Sukhbir Singh Badal and his team have defamed history, and Valtoha is just a tool being used by them.”

SGPC president Dhami, meanwhile, urged Giani Harpreet Singh “to not take take any such steps which can further increase the differences”. Dhami said Giani Harpreet Singh is a respected figure and a leader of the Panth. “I reiterate that SGPC is standing tall with him,” Dhami said.

On Tuesday, the jathedar of the Akal Takht had directed SAD’s working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder through an edict to expel Valtoha from the party within 24 hours and terminate his membership for 10 years.

The Akal Takht jathedar had taken action against Valtoha during an emergency meeting on Tuesday.

Valtoha was directed to produce proof to back his allegation that the jathedars are under pressure of the BJP-RSS and some others in matters pertaining to SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Giani Raghbir Singh had also alleged that Valtoha had asked him not to take any decision against Sukhbir.

Valtoha had also questioned the delay by the Sikh clergy in announcing the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) to the SAD chief.

On August 30, the Akal Takht had declared Sukhbir as ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct) for the “mistakes” committed by his party’s government from 2007 to 2017.

Giani Harpreet Singh had earlier served as acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht from October 2018 to June 2023. He resigned from that position following controversy over his presence at the engagement ceremony of AAP leader Raghav Chadha and actress Parineeti Chopra. He had been serving as the Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib since April 2017.