Amritsar Sahib (KP) – Purported Damdami Taksal Chief, Baba Harnaam Singh Dhumma, has once again come under scrutiny. Dhumma, who refers to himself as the fifteenth "Jathedar" of this Taksal, is accused of being a self-promoting opportunist, and a man with a suspicious past.
Baba Lakha Singh while recently addressing the press stated that Baba Harnaam Singh Dhumma is wasting the financial resources of Damdami Taksal to earn a celebrity status for himself. Baba Lakha Singh acknowledged that the recently published ‘jeevni’ or life story of Baba Dhumma was being printed in different magazines on his own behest.
While talking to the press, Baba Lakha Singh held that as being an old Taksali student, he got to stay with Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale like a shadow, but during the years from 1978 to 1984, he never witnessed Baba Dhumma visit Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale on any occasion. “Baba Dhumma’s name has only started to appear in public in the past few years, as before that, he [Baba Dhumma] was living in Seattle as an average Taksali student,” stated Baba Lakha Singh.
Dhumma, who enjoys hobnobbing with prominent leaders and politicians, returned to Punjab only a few years ago to take up the head leadership of the Damdami Taksal after the passing of Baba Thakur Singh.
Baba Lakha Singh held that Baba Dhumma received the ‘ticket’ to settle abroad after pleasing Gill. |
Although several superior Panthic and Taksali leaders, including Bhai Amrik Singh and Bhai Raam Singh, had distanced themselves from Baba Dhumma for several reasons, this time, a close associate and a senior leader of the Baba Dhumma faction of Damdami Taksal has come out to take a stand against the Baba.
According to Baba Lakha Singh, Baba Dhumma who now boasts being tortured by the police did not take any part in the Dharam Yudh Morcha as well. Baba Lakha Singh stated that Dhumma only spent about 3-4 months in police custody whereas; there are hundreds of Singhs who have spent years in jail and suffered severe police torture. “Baba Dhumma himself, besides being the head of Damdami Taksal, should work for the betterment of the lives of these Singhs, instead of wasting huge sums of money in getting his jeevani published,” said Baba Lakha Singh.
While talking to the press, Baba Lakha Singh accused Baba Dhumma of working as a close associate of KP Gill and Parkash Badal. KP Gill masterminded abductions and murders of thousands of Sikhs during the 1980’s. Baba Lakha Singh held that Baba Dhumma received the ‘ticket’ to settle abroad after pleasing Gill.
This claim by Baba Lakha Singh has not only put Baba Dhumma in trouble, but has also created several questions which the Damdami Taksal must provide answers to. According to Baba Lakha Singh, Baba Dhumma and Bhai Dharam Singh held a closed door meeting with KP Gill and Khuswant Sinh in room number 7 at Chonk Mehta.
In addition to having access to the financial resources of several Gurdwara Sahibs under the name of Damdami Taksal in Punjab, Baba Dhumma is the legal proprietor of at least three Gurdwaras in California and two in British Columbia.