Punjab: Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale decides to discontinue congregations

JALANDHAR: Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, who has been in the eye of the storm over his discourses and issue of interpretation of Gurbani and Sikh history, has decided to discontinue holding the congregations "to avoid any situation of a violent clash." He has been facing growing opposition from a section of Sikh groups and Akal Takht recently set up a five-member committee to look into the issue.
Dhadrianwale said that he would prefer to preach to the Sangat through his video recordings. "I don't want loss of life on any side - theirs or ours - and to avoid any situation which leads to a clash, I have decided not to hold congregations and from now, I on I shall preach only through my video programmes. Moreover, I don't like congregations to be held under police deployment. But I shall not stop speaking out," he told TOI. "For me, lives of our men, the Sangat and those who are opposing us are important and I don't want anyone losing life due to any differences," he said.
The preacher, who has been avoiding meeting the five-member Akal Takht committee, has set a pre-condition - he wants the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to categorically criticize the 2016 attack on him and those who were behind it before he talks to the jathedar.
Let jathedar first show fairness: Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale
Asked about the accusation that he was challenging the authority of Akal Takht by not appearing before its five-member committee, Dhadrianwale said, “I have no problem with the institution but with the corrupt system running it. Pardon to Sirsa dera chief is biggest and latest evidence that corrupt people are controlling the Takht. Its custodians should be fair.
“Let the Akal Takht Jathedar first show fairness and rebuke the other side who attacked me and those who issued fresh threats.”
“I believe some authority should be there to run the system but authority should be fair. That is our central place and we respect that. They have even permitted some to administer different types of Amrit and maryada and this amounts to going against the Akal Takht. We have worked like volunteers of Akal Takht,” the preacher said.
“In fact, those who are not following Akal Takht maryada are challenging its authority. However, the Jathedars and SGPC have sweet relations with such deras who have not been following the Akal Takht maryada. Akal Takht should issue a hukamnama that all the deras etc should follow Akal Takht maryada. Then I will reach there (Akal Takht) prostrating,” he added.