SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtohatold to prove his claim of ‘RSS-BJP pressure on jathedars’

JALANDHAR: A day after SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha claimed that Centre, RSS and BJP were pressuring jathedars (Sikh high priests) to render Shiromani Akali Dal leaderless while pronouncing religious punishment for party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, Jathedar Raghbir Singh on Sunday directed the former to appear before the Akal Takht on Tuesday.
The Akal Takht jathedar has asked Valtoha to come with proofs to substantiate his claims or his utterances would be considered character assassination of the jathedars.This controversy has erupted when Sukhbir, having been in political hibernation after an Akal Takht directive to declare him a ‘tankhaiya’ on Aug 30, has gotten politically active again.
He made his first public appearance at a protest in Muktsar on Oct 8 and then attended a few other events, including protests. He has been most active in Giderbaha, where an assembly byelection is due. Valtoha had, in a Facebook post on Oct 7, questioned the delay in pronouncing punishment for Sukhbir. In a post on Saturday evening, he went beyond insinuations while questioning the delay. He claimed that after his first post, quite a few of those close to the jathedars, and sympathisers of jathedars, gave information to him that the jathedars were being pressurised regaridng religious punishment for Sukhbir.
“According to these sources, those building pressure regarding Sukhbir and SAD included the central govt, BJP and RSS, and those fellows with a ‘Sikh appearance’ in the country and abroad who have always remained opponents of Akali Dal,” he wrote.
He claimed that he was sharing the ‘truth’ with people. “On one side, there is propaganda that jathedars decide according to the wishes of Sukhbir and SAD; but, on the other side, we have to make the jathedars decide on the matter without delay,” he added. He also made it a point that only he was responsible for all his words.
Later in the day in an interview to a YouTube channel, he levelled allegations against Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar.
“There is no doubt to anybody that Giani Harpreet Singh has connections with central govt, RSS and specifically Amit Shah.He has been talking to him directly. A message was conveyed to him, and may be other jathedars also, directly. Those very close to him talked to me. Those close to other jathedars have also confided in me,” he said,
On Sunday afternoon, Akal Takht jathedar’s media adviser Talwinder Singh Buttar said the Akali leader had been called to appear before it on Tuesday.
Sukhbir was declared ‘tankhaiya’ – in this case guilty of gross Panthic political misconduct – after dissident Akali leaders had given a complaint against him and the Sikh clergy had even used expression like ‘gunahan’ (crimes), which damaged Panthic image and weakened Akali Dal.
The clergy had asked Sikh ministers in Parkash Singh Badal govt to give their clarifications in 15 days. Even as all Sikh ministers had submitted their replies to Akal Takht, the high priests have been remaining silent on the issue. Any meeting on the issue has to be called by Akal Takht Jathedar, but there has been no word from him on it even as an explanation was quickly called from former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur on a couple of personal allegations against her. This directive sent by Akal Takht had come under severe criticism from Sikh intellectuals and activists.
‘Valtoha speaking on Sukhbir’s behest’
Reacting to the fresh controversy, 13 SGPC members owing allegiance to SAD Sudhar Lehar on Sunday alleged that SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha spoke at the behest of Sukhbir Singh Badal.
They also alleged that Sukhbir was holding meetings with the SGPC members ahead of election of SGPC president even as he was a ‘tankhaiya’. “Valtoha’s utterances are not his personal views but actually a manifestation of Sukhbir’s political restlessness…For them only those are Panthic who are with Badals,” the 13 SGPC members led by Jaswant Singh Pudain, Indermohan Singh and Malkiat Kaur said in a joint statement.
They said that earlier also, Valtoha and Sukhbir’s other associates would often mention about RSS and BJP to attack dissident leaders, but actually it was a ploy to cover Sukhbir’s mistakes. “They think that Jathedars should decide according to their wishes and in case they decide according to the sentiments of the community, then allegations would be levelled against them,” they said.
SGPC member questions claims
SGPC member Kiranjot Kaur, who also remained its general secretary, on Sunday questioned allegations of RSS-BJP pressure on jathedars. “It’s astonishing! Pressure can be built by the appointing and removing authority. Or there is pressure to represent the sentiments of the community. Everybody remembers the pardon to Sirsa dera chief had not left the jatehdars to face the sangat. In view of the low-level politics being played, SGPC members are requested to elect the SGPC president yourself. Leave the directions from the ‘tankhaiya’ and his associates and reinstate the respect of your institutions,” she wrote on her Facebook account.
Valtoha says he spoke the truth
After Valtoha received a letter signed by Akal Takht jathedar’s personal assistant Jaspal Singh, he posted on his FB that he would appear at the given time, but he argued that something was mentioned in the letter which had nothing to do with his post or him. “The directive suggests as if I have any objections about the decision to be announced by the jathedars. Contrary to this, I am a votary to Sukhbir Singh Badal being given religious punishment. But, the manipulations of opponents of Akali Dal to erode the Akalis Dal’s political status should not be allowed to succeed. The mention of pressure in my post is truth,” he said.