Manjinder Singh Sirsa quits DSGMC post, joins BJP ahead of Punjab poll

Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday resigned as president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) and joined the BJP ahead of the crucial Punjab elections in what is being seen as a bid by the saffron party to woo Sikh voters.

A former MLA from Rajouri Garden in West Delhi, Sirsa was a senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Minutes later, he told The Tribune: “I hold no grudge against Sukhbir Singh Badal or the SAD.” Sirsa has been a prominent face of the SAD in the national Capital and a strong supporter of the farmers’ stir against the three farm laws. He said he would continue to work for Sikh causes. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters later, he said the DSGMC had earned much praise for its work during the Covid surge. He thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said: “Hope we can work together and avoid a collision course.”

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said Sirsa had met the Home Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda before being inducted into the party and “has been working with us for a long time.” Union Minister GS Shekhawat said Sirsa’s induction would help the BJP in the Punjab elections. Meanwhile, a crisis is brewing in the DSGMC over Sirsa’s resignation, which has to be approved by the General House.