1984 Memorial: Simranjit Singh Mann Objects to Baba Dhumma

Amritsar Sahib—While taking a strong stand against the SGPC decision to nominate Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma as the main facilitator of the 1984 Memorial, S. Simranjit Singh Mann has stated that a neutral party should have been allotted this task. S. Mann shared strong criticism for Baba Dhumma and equated him with the BJP’s LK Advani. Mann stated that the modern mainstream Damdami Taksal has become like a wing of the Hindutva extremists and is no different than BJP or RSS.

S. Simranjit Singh Mann’s remark on Baba Dhumma has come due to his close affiliation with the Shiromani Akali Dal (B). According to S. Mann, Dhumma not only has a close relationship with Parkash and Sukhbir Badal, he enjoys close proximity with the Bhartiya Janta Party leadership. According to Mann, who is a staunch rival of SAD (B), to build a memorial for 1984 should be a joint project of the entire Sikh Nation and should not be handled by a single organisation. According to Mann, if Dhumma facilitates the project, then certainly we’d see it being built to appease the likes of LK Advani.

He cautioned the SGPC and asked it to withdraw its nomination for Baba Dhumma or else the memorial’s fate will be like the Takht constructed by Baba Santa Singh Nihang who worked at the behest of Indira Gandhi.

Mann used very strong words in his recent press statement when he blamed the Akali Dal (B) for using its influence to launch an attack on the Harmandir Sahib and Akal Takht Sahib in 1984. These revelations have been made by RK Dhawan, Personal Assistant of Indira Gandhi.

S. Mann also commented on topics such as the Anand Marriage Act and India trying to strengthen its relations with France while talking with the press. He asserted that instead of strengthening its relationship with France, India should cut all ties, as France has long oppressed religious minorities by imposing bans on religious requirements.