Takht panel launches SAD recruitment drive

After closed-door meeting with SAD leaders Sukhbir and Bhundar, he agrees to resume duties soon

- Harpreet Kaur

HOSHIARPUR: A day after the executive committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) rejected his resignation as the president of the apex gurdwara body, Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday agreed to resume his duties as SGPC chief.

The development comes after SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar and party leader Sukhbir Singh Badal met Dhami at his residence in Hoshiarpur and urged him to withdraw his resignation. Dhami had tendered his resignation from the post of SGPC president on February 17. After holding a closed-door meeting with SAD leaders Sukhbir and Bhunder, who had come to his residence this morning to urge him withdraw his resignation, Dhami said he was ready to join his duties.

"For a long time, SGPC members, Takht jathedars and SAD leadership have been asking me to take back my resignation. On Monday, the executive committee rejected my resignation. Giving in to the dictate of the 'panth', I will resume my services in 2 to 4 days," said Dhami while talking to the media.

When asked to say it specifically that he withdraws his resignation, Dhami said he had not withdrawn his resignation but the SGPC executive committee had rejected it. "There is a difference. I will resume office in view of the resolution that the executive has unanimously passed," he added.

Asked why it took him so much time to decide, Dhami said certain things needed to be clarified. After rejecting Dhami's resignation at a meeting, the executive committee members had visited him on Monday to press him change his decision, but he had not relented, though hints were dropped by his close aides that he would finally give in. It became clearer when Sukhbir planned to visit him.