A panel of Sikh scholars will sort out the dispute between the Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma and the Patiala-based Sikh preacher, Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), in its executive meeting on Tuesday, has decided to set up a committee to put an end to the ongoing slanging match between the two religious leaders.
“The SGPC executive has decided to set up a committee and the members would include Sikh scholars. We are yet to decide on the names,” an SGPC member told The Pioneer.
It has been learnt that the committee would include “neutral” leaders, reportedly from Sant Samaj, who would try to establish a direct contact between the two groups to end the issue between them.
SGPC, known as Sikh’s mini parliament, decided to step in to flutter the white flag after resolving the issue of ongoing tussle between Dhumma and Dhadrianwale.
It came in the backdrop of instructions by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal to the SGPC to resolve the issue between the two religious leaders at the earliest.
Already suffered a dent in its panthic image following a series of incidents of ‘desecration’ of Guru Granth Sahib, Sarbat Khalsa convention, and pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief, the SAD does not want cropping up of another similar issue, especially in an election year.
Punjab is all set to go for polls in early next year. The party is already trying hard to put up with its panthic agenda by organising events to celebrate birth anniversaries of Sikhs’ master Guru Gobind Singh, Sikh general Baba Banda Singh Bahadur, Punjabi Suba, besides setting up memorials.
The party has all along been apprehending that the war of words between the two religious groups in the media may cause tension among the community which was an issue of concern, and there was a dire need to check the situation well before it blew out of the proportion.
Damdami Taksal chief Dhumma has already indicated that he was ready to bury the hatchet with Dhadrianwale on the condition that the Sikh preacher issue a public apology “for his words denigrating the head of centuries-old Sikh religious institution Damdami Taksal”.
The controversy between Dhumma and Dhadrianwale has put the SAD-led Punjab Government in an uncomfortable spot with both of them criticising the Government for playing a ‘partisan role’.
Patiala-based preacher Dhadrianwale, on May 17, escaped a murderous attack on him, in which one of his followers was killed.
While Dhadrianwale had alleged that the Damdami Taksal is behind the attack, Dhumma alleged that the Sikh preacher himself staged the attack.
Earlier, the Akal Takht, Sikhs’ highest temporal seat, had offered to resolve the issue amicably — which the two groups refused to abide by.