Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

Dhadis stopped from performing at Takht for criticisin­g SGPC

- Surjit Singh

AMRITSAR : Dhadis were allegedly stopped from performing at the Akal Takht in the Golden Temple complex for criticisin­g the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Dhadis are traditiona­l performers who sing ballads with a sarangi, a string instrument, and a dhad, a small drum. The tradition was started by sixth Sikh master Guru Hargobind Sahib at the Akal Takht.

The incident took place on Sunday but came to light after the dhadis shared a video in this regard on social media. The performanc­e was being aired live on Facebook when the SGPC employees turned up and interrupte­d the same.

Soon after, the microphone of Jasvir Singh Mann, one of the dhadis who was addressing the devotees, was disconnect­ed from the sound system, it is learnt.

In his 15-minutes address, Mann is seen criticisin­g the SGPC. “The ragis, dhadis, kavishars and other Sikh preachers are considered backbone of the Panth. How many people came to help them during the lockdown when they were struggling to meet their both ends? No Sikh leader or organizati­on, including the SGPC, came to their help,” he is heard saying.

Other dhadi groups have condemned the SGPC move.

Mahinder Singh Ahli, personal secretary to SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, said, “I am not aware of the matter.”

MISSING SAROOPS: SGPC EXECUTIVE PANEL TO MEET TOMORROW

A day after Akal Takht ordered it to take action against the guilty in case of missing Guru Granth Sahib’s saroops as per the inquiry report, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Tuesday called its executive committee meeting on Thursday on a short notice of 48 hours.

The SGPC spokespers­on Kulwinder Ramdas said the meeting will be held at Sri Guru Ram Das Medical College, Amritsar. The 1000-page report of the inquiry conducted by a panel led by Telangana High Court lawyer Ishar Singh on Takht’s direction was discussed by the Panj Singh Sahiban.

LONDON: An Indian-origin man found guilty of the double murder of his mother and stepfather has been sentenced to life imprisonme­nt with a minimum 36 years behind bars before being considered for parole by a UK court.

Anmol Chana, described as “fanatical” about knives, stabbed his mother Jasbir Kaur, 52, and her husband Rupinder Singh Bassan, 51, multiple times at their home in Oldbury in the West Midlands region of England earlier this year.

The 26-year-old was convicted of the two murders after a nineday trial at Birmingham Crown Court and sentenced on Friday. “You claimed to the jury that you had killed them in self-defence. The truth was very different,” said justice Mark Wall.

“I am sure that the allegation­s you made at trial of your mother abusing you throughout your childhood were false and designed to garner jury sympathy for you,” the sentencing judge concluded. The British Sikh couple were found dead at their home in February, after West Midlands Police officers forced their way into their home following concerns being raised for their welfare.

“Chana carried out a despicable crime against his family in their own home which should have been a place of safety. Our investigat­ion revealed that Chana was fanatical about knives and had previously expressed a desire to kill his mother,” said detective Inspector Hannah Whitehouse, from the West Midlands Police homicide team.

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