Photo for representational purpose only

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 18

A fresh row has erupted between the BJP and SAD over the former’s sharp reaction to Akal Takht Jathedar’s statement on Tuesday suggesting that the 2019 Lok Sabha polls were rigged.

While BJP senior leader and a prominent Sikh face in the saffron party Harjeet Singh Grewal termed Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh “mentally ill and an employee of the Badal family”, the SAD asked the BJP leadership to take note of the irresponsible utterances being made against the Akal Takht Jathedar and ensure the honour of the head of the Sikh community’s highest temporal seat was not undermined in any manner.

Both SAD and BJP had not made statements against each for quite some time after issuing strong statements against each when the SAD broke the alliance with the BJP in September. In his address on the 100th foundation day of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee on Tuesday, Giani Hapreet Singh said the Centre was trying to divide the Sikh Panth like the Congress tried in the 1980s. He insinuated the Central Government had come to power by misusing the EVMs. BJP leader Harjeet Singh Grewal said the issue raised by the Jathedar was outside the domain of his position. Talking to The Tribune, Grewal reiterated his criticism saying the Jathedar should stick to religious issues as he was a religious leader. “He (Jathedar) has forgotten that the SAD, which was a part of the NDA government, came to power through the same EVMs.”

SAD senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema said, “The BJP central leadership should rebuff Harjeet Grewal immediately and the latter should take back his utterances and express regret for the same.”