AMRITSAR: Differences appear to have cropped up between followers of Sarbat Khalsa. Held on November 10, 2015, the Sarbat Khalsa had appointed Jagtar Singh Hawara as its own jathedar of Akal Takht.
As he was in prison, Dhian Singh Mand was made the officiating jathedar. On Tuesday, Hawara’s followers read out his message with regards to the 37th anniversary of
Operation Bluestar in front of Akal Takht, while Mand’s followers announced that the officiating jathedar would deliver his message on June 6.
Bhog of the akhand path was performed by members of the Hawara Committee (HC) at Gurdwara Baba Atal Rai Sahib, where on June 1, 1984,
CRPF had first armed confrontation with Babbar Khalsa militants who were holed up in the gurdwara. “Jagtar Singh Hawara is the jathedar of Akal Takht and his message was read out by his father, Gurcharan Singh. Mand is an officiating jathedar, so the former’s message carries more weight and meaning,” said a member of Hawara Committee, Prof Baljinder Singh, while talking to TOI after the ceremony.
He added only a handful of people were spreading the news of the announcement of delivery of the message by Mand.
On the other hand, Jarnail Singh Sakhira, who claims to be the chief organiser of the Sarbat Khalsa, denied having any knowledge of Hawara’s message being read out. Hawara is lodged in Tihar jail at the moment. “I don’t know about their function, but the officiating jathedar of Akal Takht, Dhian Singh Mand, will deliver his message on June 6,” said Sakhira.
Baljnder said he had asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to raise a healthcare centre dedicated to Babbar Khalsa militant Mehanga Singh and others who were killed by armed forces at Gurdwara Atal Rai Sahib. He said the expenses would be borne by the HC.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Khalistan leader Gopal Singh Chawla also released a speech on Tuesday and announced to take out a march dedicated to Operation Bluestar in Nankana Sahib on June 6.