No course left but stir, says Dhadrianwale; Dhumma calls Panthic bodies

Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale said on Wednesday here that a peaceful agitation was his only option now to expedite police investigation into the May 17 murderous attack on him in Ludhiana.

“The investigation is incomplete until the arrest of the mastermind,” he told the media after meeting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. “I trust the assurances of the chief minister and the deputy CM but see nothing concrete happening on the ground to book the conspirator, whose identity everyone knows,” he added.

On an appeal from the Akal Takht, highest temporal seat of the faith, asking both sides to stop provoking each other by statements, Dhadrianwale said: “I expect the Akal Takht to play a responsible role in keeping with Sikh traditions; but its working is already in question.” He said a week since the armed attack, he had accused no organisation or person directly, so far, and “the Takht should see who is making those statements, hold a parallel probe along with police into who dishonoured the tradition of Chhabeel”.

He said he would decide on considering the appeal from the Takht, though he still wanted only peace and no action that leads to a “bhraa-maroo jang (war among brothers)”.

Aide’s bhog to be held today

Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale will on Thursday attend the bhog of his aide Bhupinder Singh, who died in the May 17 attack. He said his organisation would take care of Bhupinder’s family. Panthic bodies at the bhog will reveal his clout. Sikh radical leaders Panthpreet Singh and Baljit Singh Daduwal are likely to attend it in Ludhiana.

Dhumma calls Panthic bodies

Amritsar: Amid simmering differences with Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma has called a parallel meeting of Panthic organisations at his Chowk Mehta headquarters here on Thursday.

Dhumma said it was for “discussiing the ongoing crisis and deciding the future course of action”. He will also address the media, later.