DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK has temporarily put in his papers and handed over the reins to senior vice-president Harmeet Singh Kalka citing personal reasons. This comes as another blow to the Badal Akali Dal.

Coming on the heels of the shake up within the Akali Dal Badal higher echelons as a result of the mammoth response of the people of Punjab to the issue of sacrilege at the Bargari Morcha, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Manjit Singh GK has asked his Senior Vice President Harmeet Singh Kalka to officiate as President.

Though the news of his “resignation” has emerged today, he handed over the reins on 5 October itself.  Apparently, the senior leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal Badal did not get time to do damage control, is it a calculated move for cake-walk for DSGMC General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa to be made the President, as the “truce” between the two may have come to an end. 

“I am taking time off for personal reasons.”

Manjit Singh GK, DSGMC President

Stirring the already disturbed waters of the Badal Dal, the DSGMC chief could not stand scrutiny of interviewers when questioned about the reasons for his temporary holiday, though, he said, “I am taking time off for personal reasons.”

His personal advisor, Parminderpal Singh has said that he was very upset over the manner in which his parent party Akal Dal Badal has handled the Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege issues in the Punjab.

This unprecedented but unexpected move has started the speculation game in the corridors of power in the Delhi Sikh leadership circles. Manjit Singh GK’s bête noire Gurmeet Singh Shanty,  who is also a member of the DSGMC, at a hurriedly convened press meet at his residence has asserted that, “The regime of Manjit Singh GK at the DSGMC has been the hotbed of corruption and that he has challenged him on many counts of corruption.” At the press meet Gurmeet Singh Shanty has placed before the media a number of documents relating to malfeasance and misappropriation of funds in a printing contract and has held Manjit Singh responsible for this.

On the other hand, the Sarna brothers, especially Harvinder Singh Sarna has said, “This is a move to bargain with the Badal Dal leadership and their allies BJP to garner sympathy and lobby for candidature for the Lower House of Indian Parliament, the Lok Sabha, from one of the Delhi constituencies.

“With Sikh activists very active on social media, it is now impossible to brush everything under the carpet. With the Right to information applicable on DSGMC, many more skeletons are likely to tumble out.”

Speaking to a section of the media, which has managed to reach him, Manjit Singh GK raised questions about the pardon by the Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh to the Sauda Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. This is a complete 360 degree turn from his earlier stand wherein he was the one, who along with his DSGMC team flew to Amritsar to congratulate the Akal Takht Jathedar for the pardon.

Since the one-to-one clash with volunteers of the Sikhs for Justice in the United States, Manjit Singh GK has not been his old self. Significantly, the general secretary of the DSGMC, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who is vocal even when not required, is also unusually quiet.

The image of police inside the precincts of Gurdwara Rakabganj, ordered by Manjit Singh GK has grossly damaged his reputation as a Sikh leader in Delhi. He did this as he wanted to start reconstruction of the historic Gurdwara without consultation within the DSGMC or with the Sangat -the Sikh congregation. Concerned activists were able to stop it and the matter is in abeyance, but for how long will it remain so would depend upon the alertness of the activists.

The running of institutions which are part of the DSGMC has always remained a questionable feature of the working of the DSGMC, whoever has been in power. With the growth and impact of social media, it is now impossible to brush everything under the carpet. With the Right to information applicable on DSGMC, many more old and new skeletons are likely to tumble out in the future.

Given the present state of affairs of the Badal Akali Dal, is nemesis catching up with Manjit Singh or is his conscience pricking very hard because he has associated with his party for all the wrong reasons?

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