A fresh controversy has emerged within Sikh circles over the venue of the annual Ghallughara Remembrance Day with Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhuma publicly exchanging sharp remarks.
The dispute centres on the annual event held at the Damdami Taksal headquarters in Mehta Chowk to commemorate the events of June 1984. Recently, Mann criticised Dhuma, stating that the June 6 observance should be held only at Akal Takht, where Sikhs from across the world gather to collectively remember the day.
Mann urged Dhuma to hold the Mehta Chowk programme on June 7 instead, saying he would have no objection to such an arrangement. He also criticised Dhuma for participating in rituals such as bathing in the Ganges and offering prayers to a Shivling.
Responding during a gathering, Dhuma, without directly naming Mann, said some individuals continuously criticise the Damdami Taksal despite having benefited from the institution’s support in the past. Referring to Mann, he remarked that the organisation had helped him become a Member of Parliament and attain other positions of prominence, and advised him to “keep his mouth shut” on the issue.
Dhuma defended the continuation of the annual programme at Mehta Chowk, arguing that the event has been held there since the tenure of Baba Thakur Singh, who led the Taksal after Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. He asserted that no force in the world could stop these commemorative gatherings.
The exchange did not end there. Following Dhuma’s remarks, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) national general secretary Mahinder Pal Singh countered that Dhuma had participated in the June 6 programmes at Akal Takht until around 2012-13. He alleged that it was only afterwards, at the behest of certain forces, that Dhuma began organising a separate event at Mehta Chowk.
