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Dhumma has his way: Jathedar skips annual message

Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma had earlier opposed Gargajj’s appointment as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht saying it was in violation of 'maryada' and 'panthic traditions'.

4 min readAmritsarUpdated: Jun 7, 2025 02:36 PM IST

Damdami Taksal head Harnam Singh Dhumma at Golden Temple in Amritsar, Friday. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)

In a break from a 40-year-old tradition, Akal Takht’s acting Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargajj did not deliver the annual customary message to the community on Operation Blue Star anniversary,
to avoid any controversy with Panthic bodies. Gargajj, however he preformed the ‘ardas’ (prayer according to Sikh rituals) to mark the event.

Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma had earlier opposed Gargajj’s appointment as the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht saying it was in violation of ‘maryada’ and ‘panthic traditions’.

During the ardas, the Jathedar said this pious spiritual place (Golden Temple and Akal Takht) should never be a place of turmoil as everybody wants peace here. He also raised several issues, including the “targeting of Sikhs in India and abroad,” the concept of a “Sikh homeland,” and “discrimination against Sikhs.”

Gargajj prayed for strength, unity, harmony, and togetherness within the Khalsa Panth and sought blessings for the community to follow in the footsteps of the community’s warriors and martyrs. Speaking to the media later, Gargajj expressed strong objection to “the planned events being held in Batala city under the name ‘crusade’, in the context of religious conversions”.

He said, “Punjab is the land sanctified by the Sikh Gurus, and seeds of hatred must not be sown here. There is the need for the Sikh community to respond to this issue with compassion and to embrace those who have drifted toward other faiths.” Earlier, Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), honoured the family members of the Sikhs who were killed along with Jarnail singh Bhindranwale in the Golden Temple complex during the Army action in June 1984. According to tradition, it was the Akal Takht Jathedar who every year honours the families of those who were killed in the Army action. According to sources, it was decided in a series of meetings Jathedar Gargajj would neither deliver the annual message nor offer the siropa (robe of honour) to the families of those who died in 1984.

When asked if he has scored a victory by not allowing Gargajj to issue message to the community, Dhuma said that he was not in favor of making such claims because that would be a form of arrogance, which is not acceptable in the Guru’s house.

He added that in the near future, all Panthic organisations will sit together and deliberate on the process of appointing Jathedars. He said that if the SGPC appoints the Jathedars of the Takhts with the consensus of all Sikh organisations, then there will be no dispute. Disputes arise only when the Panth is not taken into confidence, he said.

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It is not first time that Jathedar has faced the opposition. It was, however, the first time when SGPC was not seen standing with the Jathedar.

Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh too had faced huge opposition from the community after he issued pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2015. SGPC made sure that he was allowed to issue his annual message on the occasions of Diwali and Operation Blue Star anniversaries. Gurbachan Singh resigned in 2018 and was replaced by the Giani Harpreet Singh, who gained the confidence of community.

Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann heaped praise on Gargajj said, saying that despite the restrictions, the Jathedar “conveyed his message emphasising the need for a Sikh homeland and raising concerns over the ongoing massacre of Sikhs abroad”.

Mann also condemned the “forces” that barred Jathedar from delivering his annual message.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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