Amritsar, March 12 — Damdami Taksal has strongly opposed the removal of Takht Jathedars and what it described as unauthorized appointments made by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in violation of Sikh traditions.
Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa ‘Dhuma’ has called for a Panthic gathering on March 14 at Panj Piyara Park, Damdami Taksal premises, Gurdwara Gurdarshan Prakash (Sri Anandpur Sahib), at 1 pm to protest against what he termed as “disrespect” towards Sikh principles, Takht Sahibs, and Panthic traditions.
In a video message, he did not name any SGPC official or Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader directly but attributed the ongoing controversy to efforts aimed at protecting “one family.”
“Come out to teach them a lesson for their ‘man marzi’ (self-styled) decisions orchestrated just to save the egoistic approach of some individuals at the cost of Panthic principles and institutions,” he stated, urging representatives from Sant Samaj, Sikh Dal, Nihang Singh organizations, Sikh institutions, and the Sikh sangat to participate.
The SGPC recently removed Giani Raghbir Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht and relieved Giani Sultan Singh from Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj was appointed as Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and given officiating charge of Akal Takht. He quietly assumed both positions on Monday.
Once closely aligned with the SAD and SGPC, the Damdami Taksal had previously backed key decisions, including the controversial 2015 exoneration of the Dera Sirsa chief and responses to sacrilege incidents.
Their ties strengthened further after SAD-SGPC approved the construction of a memorial gurdwara inside the Golden Temple complex in honor of Sikh martyrs from Operation Blue Star. However, this move had strained SAD’s relations with its then ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Political equations shifted after SAD severed ties with the BJP over farm laws in 2020. The Taksal later moved closer to the BJP, with Baba Harnam Singh openly supporting the BJP-led Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP) alliance in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
His endorsement, made “on behalf of Sikh Samaj, Maharashtra,” drew criticism from sections of the Sikh religious and political leadership, including the SAD and SGPC.
Read more: SGPC Removes Akal Takht, Keshgarh Sahib Jathedars
