Jhinda floats Janta Akali Dal

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 10

Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC ad hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda floated a political outfit, Janta Akali Dal (JAD), after performing prayers at Akal Takht today.

Jhinda said he would be the officiating head of the party, even as a meeting of JAD members and HSGMC (ad hoc) had been scheduled for August 1 to appoint its office-bearers. “I will stick to one post. Our party’s slogan is ‘Hamara gaon hamara raj, hamara shehar hamari sarkar’. It would be a secular political outfit devoid of dominance of any religion, caste or creed,” he said.

He said JAD would operate from rural areas and had been conceptualised as a national political party. Jhinda said in Punjab, the JAD’s main focus would be to topple the Badals’ SAD, which had falsely been propagating that Haryana Sikhs seldom observe the inviolability and tenets of Akal Takht by floating a parallel gurdwara managing committee.

“Unlike other Akali Dals which are based on lies and misguide people, the JAD will not be remote-controlled from New Delhi or Chandigarh. Our aim would be to remain within the limits of Sikh rehat maryada (tenets). On the other hand, the interference by the SAD (Badal) in religious affairs has resulted in unrest in Sikh circles. Our purpose of announcing the party from Akal Takht is to dispel the wrong impression created by the Badals that Haryana Sikhs do not have faith in Akal Takht and Golden Temple,” he said.

When asked if he recognised the sanctity of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh or the 2015 Sarbat Khalsa-appointed jathedars, he said: “One was appointed by the government, the other by society. But I am here to bow before Akal Takht only”.

He clarified that he had volunteered to appear before Akal Takht some time ago and accepted the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) with an aim to clear the way for floating a political outfit.