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HARISH MANAV/ THE NEWS DOSE.COM
Chandigarh, Exactly six months after being sacked as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib over charges of misconduct, Giani Harpreet Singh has resurfaced in Punjab’s political theatre — this time challenging Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on his home turf.
The 53-year-old religious leader, known for his powerful oratory and belonging to the Scheduled Caste community — a first for any head of an Akali faction — was once a protégé of Sukhbir. It was Sukhbir himself who played a key role in elevating him from a gurdwara priest in Muktsar to the position of Akal Takht Jathedar in 2018, prompting Harpreet Singh to abandon his PhD work at Punjabi University to take up the top seat in the Sikh religious hierarchy.
A Rise Marked by Controversy
Giani Harpreet Singh’s tenure as acting Akal Takht Jathedar from October 2018 and later as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib was peppered with high-profile appearances and political friction. His meetings with leaders from across the political spectrum — including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in 2022 — ruffled feathers within the SAD and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
In June 2023, his presence at the engagement of AAP MP Raghav Chadha and actor Parineeti Chopra sparked fresh criticism, ultimately leading to his resignation from the Akal Takht post amid mounting pressure. His secular statement that “any reasonable person could be Punjab CM, irrespective of religion” further diluted the SAD’s religious-political narrative.
The Fallout with the Badals
By early 2024, relations between Harpreet Singh and Sukhbir Badal had soured irreparably. On February 11, 2024, the SGPC dismissed him from the Damdama Sahib post following a misconduct probe. Harpreet Singh alleged that the move was part of a conspiracy orchestrated by “messengers of the Badals” to ensure his permanent ouster.
Even before his removal, he had hinted at being targeted. In a January 28 interview, he accused SGPC leaders of trying to trap him in a “frivolous case” and vowed to “expose everything” if sacked.
Role in Religious Disciplinary Actions
As one of the five Sikh high priests led by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, Harpreet Singh played a key role in issuing “tankhah” (religious punishment) to the SAD’s leadership in December 2022. He also backed the expulsion of a SAD leader who accused him of having ties to the BJP and RSS — a charge he denied. At one point, he offered to resign as SGPC president to Harjinder Singh Dhami after a clash with an “expelled” SAD leader, but his resignation was rejected.
From Pulpit to Politics
A graduate of Guru Kashi Gurmat Institute, Harpreet Singh began as an SGPC preacher in 1997, becoming head granthi of Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Muktsar in 1999. He later earned a master’s in religious studies from Panjab University and completed a PhD comparing the teachings of the Quran and Guru Granth Sahib.
His 2017 appointment as Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib came after the removal of Giani Gurmukh Singh, who had accused the SGPC of political interference by the SAD in religious matters. This charge has since become a recurring theme in Harpreet Singh’s career.
Now, by stepping into Sukhbir Badal’s political arena, Giani Harpreet Singh appears to be signalling not just a personal comeback, but a direct challenge to the Badal family’s dominance in both the religious and political landscape of Punjab.
