Dhadis seek better remuneration, protest in Amritsar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 29

A row between Dhadis (balladeers) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) over remuneration and hours of performance at Akal Takht refuses to die down.

Dhadis protested in support of their demands and offered a bowl of blood on Friday. The march passed through Heritage Street, Jallianwala Bagh and culminated at new jora ghar. The protesters didn’t raise slogans, but recited ‘satnam waheguru’.

The agitators announced that from November 1 they would sit on a chain hunger strike after paying obeisance at Akal Takht. Dhadis stage traditional ‘diwan’ and sing ballads at Akal Takht.

Baldev Singh MA, a member of Sri Guru Hargobind Dhadi Group, said the ‘diwan’ was suspended due to the pandemic last year. He alleged that the SGPC, instead of supporting them, has withdrawn renumeration of Rs 7,500 to each jatha that was earlier being paid on every occasion of ‘sangrandh’ and ‘masya’.

Similarly, performance timing has been cut by three hours, he said and added that in case any member of the jatha remains absent due to domestic or medical reasons, the entire jatha cannot perform.

Earlier, Akal Takht had constituted a three-member panel of the Dharam Parchar Committee to resolve the issue, but to no avail.