Panthic divide: Dhumma slams Akal Takht, says govt siding with Dhadrianwale

Snubbing the Akal Takht call to keep mum, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma on Thursday accused the state government of favouring Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale

Snubbing the Akal Takht call to keep mum, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma on Thursday accused the state government of favouring Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.

Harman Singh Dhumma, head of the Damdami Taksal, at the radical Sikh organisation’s headquarters at Chowk Mehta near Amritsar on Monday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

Dhumma, who had called a meeting of Panthic organisations at the Taksal headquarters in Chowk Mehta, 30km from here, slammed the government and questioned where was the Akal Takht jathedar when Dhadrianwale was making objectionable remarks against the “dastar” (turban) of the Taksal.

Talking to reporters after the Panthic meet, Dhumma said: “The Punjab government is favouring Dhadrianwale in the attack case. Our men are being tortured by the police. The government is not taking any action against Dhadrianwale supporters who also fired gunshots during the attack.”

Read: Know Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, and a spat with Taksal head

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“Was the government sleeping when Dhadrianwale was making objectionable remarks the Taksal turban? It didn’t even bother to register a case against him. Today, all are sympathising with him,” he added. On being asked if the government was supporting Dhadrianwale for vote bank, Dhumma said: “This can be one of the aspects. The probe is not transparent and the issue is being politicised,” he added.

Harman Singh Dhumma, chief of the Damdami Taksal, at the Sikh radical organisation’s headquarters at Chowk Mehta near Amritsar on Monday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)

Flays Akal Takht jathedar

Replying to a query on Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh’s call not to issue any statement, Dhumma said: “The jathedar has failed to perform his duty. Why he kept mum when Dhadrianwale was disrespecting the Taksal turban. There have been many instances of trouble brewing in the Sikh community, but the Akal Takht jathedar always remained a mute spectator.”

Read: Akal Takht to break ice between Dhumma, Dhadrianwale

Seeks Sikh preacher’s apology

Dhumma said Dhadrianwale was misleading people by saying that he had issues with me and not with the Damdami Taksal. “If he has targeted the head of an organisation, doesn’t this mean the organisation is also being attacked? He questioned. “The problem is that Dhadrianwale is not admitting to his mistake. If Dhadrianwale feels that what he said was wrong and apologises for it, we can think of a patch-up,” added Dhumma.

Read: Dhumma admits to ‘Damdami Taksal hand’ in Dhadrianwale attack

Read: Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale demands CBI inquiry into murderous attack

Armed members and followers of the Damdami Taksal at its headquarters at Chowk Mehta near Amritsar on Monday. (Gurpreet Singh/HT Photo)