SGPC team to meet Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, seminary adamant
Amritsar: Damdami Taksal, Chowk Mehta, is sticking to its stance of not letting the officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, to deliver a message on the 41st Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6, despite the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) announcing a meeting with the Sikh seminary's chief, Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, on June 2.
"We welcome the SGPC's delegation to meet and discuss, but we stand by our decision of preventing Giani Gargaj from delivering the message to the quom on Ghallughara Diwas on June 6," Avtar Singh Buttar, a senior sewadar of Damdami Taksal, said on Sunday.
A day after Damdami Taksal asked SGPC to stop Gargaj from delivering the message from the rostrum of Akal Takht, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said he would lead a delegation to meet Baba Harnam Singh on June 2 to prevent any kind of confrontation during the event.
Dhami conceded he was concerned about the situation, but expressed confidence in finding a solution. The taksal's objection centres on the legitimacy of Gargaj's appointment and authority as the officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht.
After taksal's warning and before the SGPC's decision to send a delegation to meet Dhumma, Gargaj, in a release issued from the Akal Takht secretariat, appealed to the Sikh community to commemorate the 'Shaheedi Hafta (martyrdom week)' of June 1984 event with the spirit of "panthic" (Sikh community) unity and pay homage to those killed during Operation Bluestar.
Avtar Singh Buttar said the SGPC could consider asking another Sikh religious leader, such as one of the other high priests, a head granthi, or a widely respected Sikh personality, to deliver the message instead. He said Damdami Taksal remained firm in its decision. If Gargaj delivers the address from the Akal Takht rostrum on June 6, the taksal, along with the entire Sant Samaj, various Sikh sects, Sikh federations, Nihang Singh organisations, and the broader Sikh Panth, will strongly oppose the move, he added.
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