Akal Takht Sahib removes ban on Sikh preacher Ranjit Dhadrianwale after he apologises for ‘misinterpreting Gurbani’

Last week, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with looking into a rape-murder case in Patiala, had recommended that the FIR against Dhadrianwale, registered in December last year, be cancelled since it could not find anything to substantiate the allegations.

Lifting of the ban against Dhadrianwale comes at a time when Dhuma has turned against the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Dhuma wants the SGPC to remove Akal Takht Sahib’s acting Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, who was instrumental in making Dhadrianwale appear before the Akal Takht Sahib seeking forgiveness.

Dhuma has been close to the BJP in recent years, especially since the SAD(B) snapped political ties with the longtime ally.

The ban on Ranjit Dhadrianwale

In 2019, the Akal Takht formed a five-member committee to probe the allegations against preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale for allegedly misinterpreting the Gurbani (hymns in the Guru Granth Sahib) and insulting Sikh customs.

On August 24, 2020, the Akal Takht asked the Sikh community to maintain distance from Dhadrianwale until he issued a clarification on the allegations and apologised for it. The ban was viewed as a continuation of the issues between the preacher and Dhuma.

A statement by then Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said, “The committee has found that Dhadrianwale is guilty of making false statements regarding Sikh rituals and customs, and he is also not ready to appear to clarify the allegations against him. So, all Sikhs are advised against inviting him to any religious congregation. No Sikh should listen to Dhadrianwale, or watch, or forward his videos. Further action can be taken against Dhadrianwale if he doesn’t correct his path.”

A similar order was issued by the Sikh Jathedars for the preacher’s companion Harvinder Singh. Dhadrianwale had then said that he was ready to give all the answers live in a televised debate, which the Akal Takht Jathedar saw as a challenge to its authority.

Dhadrianwale, however, did not face any harsh punishment from the Akal Takht Sahib for his alleged religious misconduct, but was asked to offer karah parshad (sacred food offering) worth Rs 501 at the Akal Takht Sahib and resume his religious preaching activities.

The issue between Harnam Dhuma and Ranjit Dhadarianwale

On May 17, 2016, Dhadrianwale was attacked near Barewal village in Ludhiana. Bhupinder Singh Khasi Kalan, who was travelling with him, was shot dead in the attack.

The Sikh seminary, Damdami Taksal, later admitted that the Ludhiana police had booked its men and vehicles in connection with the attack.

At the time of the attack, Damdami Taksal head Harnam Singh Dhuma had been politically supporting the SAD(B) for 10 years under the banner of the Sant Samaj. Dhadrianwale, however, never had any links to the SAD(B) but was close to Congress leaders in Punjab.

At his religious congregations during the Akali Dal’s rule, Dhadrianwale had started criticising the incumbent political establishment in the state over various issues, without naming the SAD(B).

His issues with the SAD(B), however, peaked over the incident involving the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari village of Faridkot in 2015. Along with another Sikh preacher, Panthpreet Singh, Dhadrianwale sat on a dharna, which led to protests across the state, including the killing of two Sikh protesters in police firing in Behbal Kalan.

They repeatedly expressed anger against the state government for failing to arrest the culprits. Dhadrianwale also used his religious congregations to lead the attack on the government.

Over the years, Dhadrianwale also began criticising a large section of the Sant Samaj for alleged orthodox practices and for encouraging the culture of godmen in Punjab. He also flayed the Sant Samaj for its passive role while the state was simmering with protests against the desecration incidents. Besides heading the Damdami Taksal, Harnam Singh Dhuma is also the president of the Sant Samaj.

Interestingly, Dhadrianwale had also faced criticism for alleged orthodox practices and for acting as a godman during the initial years of his rise. Famous Punjabi singer Babbu Maan had written a song about the godmen culture in Punjab, following which Dhadrianwale criticised the vocalist for targeting him in the popular song.

But later, Dhadrianwale gradually shunned the alleged orthodox practices, changed his ways, and gave up the heavy security and red beacon. He also stopped having armed bodyguards. He began requesting his followers not to call him “Sant” or “Baba”, but just “brother”.

These changes enabled him to take on Sant Samaj leaders for allegedly enjoying a luxurious “godmen lifestyle”, and he continued to criticise them in his religious congregations. His videos often go viral on social media. He had once even referred to Dhuma as a “sarkari sant (government-sponsored preacher)”.