Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 24

Two years after a bloody war between Damdami Taksal and Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, that claimed the life of the latter’s aide, the Amritsar-based Sikh seminary has again issued “death threats” to the preacher.

The new war of words between the two sides erupted after the chief spokesperson of the Taksal, Charanjit Singh Jassowal, issued death threats to “Sikh preacher” during a meeting held at the Taksal headquarters at Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash, Chowk Mehta, near Amritsar, on May 20.

A meeting was called there to discus the events to be undertaken by the Taksal to observe the anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 6. It was in the presence of seminary head Harnam Singh Dhumma and other religious leaders, SGPC members and various groups that Jassowal advocated the murder of Sikh parcharaks, and more specifically directed his threats towards Dhadrianwale.

Though the Taksal on Thursday dissociated its head from Jassowal’s statement, claiming that the seminary head had not approved it, the video of the event went viral on the social media. Following this, Dhadrianwale, too, posted a 30-minute video, calling these threats as religious “gundagardi”.

Raking up the two-year-old case wherein Taksal members had led an attack on his cavalcade near Ludhiana in which one of his aides was killed, Dhadrianwale questioned the silence of the Akal Takht on the matter. The preacher also explained that his religious discourses were based on facts, as written in “Gurbani”.

After the matter caused a stir on the social media, the government responded to the issue, which has the capacity to snowball into a major controversy in the state.

In a statement, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh asked the police to increase the security of the preacher, while issuing a “stern warning” to Damdami Taksal.

Not to be cowed down, the Taksal held a meeting in the seminary late on Thursday evening and “warned” the CM against “degrading the prestige of the Taksal”.

Sarchand Singh, a Taksal spokesperson, has told The Tribune that the tone and tenor of the statement issued by the CM is “in favour of those who preach against the principles of Gurmat”, while targeting the seminary head Harnam Singh. “We will not tolerate this,” he said.

He added that the Taksal was against Sikh preachers who claim to propagate the religion, but were actually preaching against the laid down tenets of the religion. He accused both Dhadrianwale and another Sikh preacher Amrik Singh Chandigarh of trying to divide the Sikhs.

Was attacked two years ago

In May 2016, unidentified gunmen opened fire at Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale’s cavalcade near Ludhiana, leaving his aide Bhupinder Singh dead

The preacher, however, escaped with minor injuries

They were on their way to attend a congregation at Isewal village in three cars when the incident took place

Cops see pattern in the attack

Intelligence and police sources point out a pattern in the attack on Sikh preacher Amrik Singh Chandigarh in London; statements issued by Sikh Federation, Germany, against the Sikh preachers; and the new war of words that have erupted between Dhadrianwale and the Damdami Taksal. Many believe that the issue is being blown up by the radical factions, who want to get foothold in the Sikh politics here. Police sources say in the case of death threats to Dhadrianwale, the issue is being examined and appropriate legal action will be taken.