Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami on Wednesday was elected president of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) for the second time in a row. In doing so, the SGPC member from Sham Churasi constituency in Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, has received a high-profile electoral battle in opposition to Bibi Jagir Kaur, as proxy for the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal within the SGPC home.
Regardless of an extended stint in politics, Dhami is likely one of the few SAD leaders who’re noncontroversial. He has been a SGPC member since 1996, and has additionally served because the SGPC common secretary prior to now.
Dhami was step by step elevated to the submit of president by SAD(B) in 2021. Earlier than that, the SGPC common home had appointed Dhami as its honorary chief secretary. Born in 1956, Dhami holds a BA and a LLB diploma. For the final 40 years, he has been concerned within the authorized career, and has been voluntarily preventing the instances of Sikh militants.
He additionally enjoys good relations outdoors the SAD(B). Dal Khalsa, a separatist get together, is understood for its anti-Badal stance. But, Dal Khalsa’s solely SGPC member and former militant Kulbir Singh Bada Pind sought parole for at some point to solid his vote in favour of Dhami. “Dhami had represented Kulbir Singh Bada Pind in militancy-related instances. So he wished to come back out and vote for Dhami. He’s again in jail now,” stated a Dal Khalsa chief.
Prior to now, Dhami has represented many Sikh militants in courts, incomes respect in Sikh circles throughout get together traces. His earlier year-long tenure was controversy-free. That stated, he additionally didn’t take any huge selections, particularly within the context of challenges forward of the SGPC and the SAD(B). In contrast to his predecessor, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Dhami has additionally by no means expressed his opinion on disputed non secular points throughout the group.
With the departure of Bibi Jagir Kaur from the SAD(B), he has turn out to be essentially the most skilled SAD(B) member throughout the SGPC, although it’s but to be seen if he emerges as a preferred chief for the get together, particularly with SGPC elections—that are performed by the Union and state governments—due quickly.
The SGPC has been struggling to win again the arrogance of the Sikh group. Although Dhami just isn’t accused of creating any additional dent in its credibility, his greatest problem is to enhance the functioning and picture of the physique within the eyes of the group at giant, with out which, his clear picture wouldn’t be of any use to the SAD(B), which is struggling to maintain its of us collectively.
Critics say that Dhami gave the SGPC forms a free run in his first 12 months as president. It will be fascinating to see if he manages to rein within the forms in his second 12 months.