Maharashtra Poll Results Ripple Into Canada: Pro-Khalistani Group Targets Sikh Leader Dhumma Over Alleged BJP Links

Tensions have escalated between Damdami Taksal, a prominent Sikh seminary, and a section of Khalistani supporters after the managing committee of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, openly criticised Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, also known as Dhumma.

The Gurdwara committee, once led by Khalistani militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar, accused Dhumma of aligning with the BJP-led Mahayuti coalition during the recent Maharashtra assembly elections. 

Bhupinder Singh Hothi, the committee's general secretary, along with other members, issued a video statement claiming Dhumma’s support for the BJP highlights his alleged collaboration with the Indian government, which they blame for Nijjar’s death.

“In the past, Harnam Singh Khalsa alias Dhumma has worked hand in glove with the government. It is now common knowledge that he urged the Sikh community in Maharashtra to support the BJP,” Hothi stated. The committee has called for an international boycott of Dhumma, particularly during his fundraising visits abroad.

Supporters of Damdami Taksal, both in India and abroad, have rallied behind Dhumma, dismissing the allegations as baseless. The Taksal published advertisements in Punjabi newspapers cautioning against defamatory remarks, including those made by some leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

Dhumma, currently on a visit to the United States, defended his actions, asserting that his appeal during the Maharashtra elections was intended to address the grievances of the Sikh community in the state.

“Certain individuals are making misleading remarks against Damdami Taksal to create discord within the community. Our focus has always been on safeguarding the interests of Sikhs,” Dhumma said.

Based at Gurdwara Gurdarshan Parkash in Chowk Mehta near Amritsar, Damdami Taksal is a renowned Sikh educational and cultural institution founded by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru. Its mission is to teach Sikh scriptures (Gurbani) and martial arts.

Under the leadership of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the late 1970s, the Taksal became a focal point of Sikh activism. For decades, it has held annual ‘Shahidi Samagams’ to honor militants who died during Punjab's years of unrest.

Dhumma, who has led the Taksal since 2005, has often faced criticism from radicals for his perceived closeness to the Shiromani Akali Dal.

This growing rift between Damdami Taksal and Khalistani supporters underscores the complexities within Sikh politics and the enduring influence of global Sikh diaspora communities. With both sides entrenched in their positions, the debate over Dhumma’s actions and affiliations continues to stir controversy.

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