Latest news with #ShiromaniAkaliDal
The Print
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Print
Wave the yellow card on BJP leaders calling Trump names. It's sub-juvenile behaviour
Dadagiri, unworthy, big boss — BJP ministers and leaders calling Trump names is sub-juvenile. Keenness to please their angry support base is no excuse. BJP's politics cannot be running ahead of Modi government's measured diplomacy. Somebody needs to blow the whistle and wave the yellow card, if not yet the red. Sikh religious politics is undergoing a fresh churn. It's dangerous for Punjab and India The latest split underlines the existential crisis for Shiromani Akali Dal, India's oldest regional party. This fresh churn in Sikh religious politics was already stirred by radicals like Amritpal. Punjab's voters will ultimately decide which Akali Dal is real, but instability in Sikh politics is dangerous for Punjab and India.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SAD accuses rival group of misusing party name, plans legal action
1 2 Chandigarh: Calling Giani Harpreet Singh-led rival faction 'Vakhra Chulha Dal', Shiromani Akali Dal ( SAD ) on Tuesday announced its decision to file a criminal complaint against the leaders of what it termed a "central agency-sponsored group". SAD accused the faction of attempting to misappropriate the name of the Shiromani Akali Dal, which it asserted is a registered and recognised party under the Election Commission's 1996 notification. SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said, "All delegates of the SAD were elected through a proper election process following the end of the previous working committee's term. The rival faction did not participate in the membership drive and failed to follow the party's constitutional norms." Cheema added that SAD members had paid a membership fee of Rs 10, valid for five years, as required by the party constitution. "The separate group did not conduct any such drive, and therefore, has no right to call their gathering a delegate session of the SAD. They can be proceeded against for cheating and forgery," he said. Calling the rival faction's actions "illegal, unconstitutional, and immoral," Cheema said SAD was consulting legal experts to file a formal criminal complaint. He also mentioned that the party would send letters to all media houses to clarify the factual position and prevent Giani Harpreet Singh's group from misusing the SAD name. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Dhami censures rebel SAD chief's statement on SGPC
Amritsar: Harjinder Singh Dhami, president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on Tuesday condemned former jathedar and head of the rebel faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal chief Giani Harpreet Singh's statement about "snatching" the SGPC, calling it an attack on the dignity, decorum, and historical significance of a key Sikh institution. In response to media queries, Dhami said the SGPC was a panthic institution, whose leadership was entrusted through the will of the sangat and service was carried out accordingly. He said the talk of forcibly taking over a Sikh institution revealed the intention that suggests he (Harpreet Singh) was allegedly being directed by someone else. Dhami emphasised that anyone could serve this institution constitutionally by winning elections, but unethical or immoral means were unacceptable. The SGPC head further said the Akali Dal was the only panthic party. He warned that efforts to undermine this panthic party were misguided and instead, the focus should be on unity. Dhami said the Sikh community faced many serious challenges today and it was important to address these sincerely. Making statements about capturing Sikh institutions only creates confusion within the community and should be avoided, he added. MSID:: 123259282 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Giani Harpreet is head of SAD's breakaway faction
Former Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh was unanimously elected as the president of the breakaway faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in a meeting of the delegate session held in Amritsar on Monday, a move that formalised another split in the 104-year-old 'panthic' party. Giani Harpreet Singh, along with other members of the breakaway faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal, in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT) Bibi Satwant Kaur was elected as chairperson of the 'panthic' council of the faction. The Akal Takht-appointed committee held the delegate session of the breakaway group of the SAD at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh in Amritsar. More than 500 delegates attended the meeting. Calling their faction as the 'real' SAD, the rebel Akali leaders dubbed the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led outfit as the 'bhagora dal', which defied the Akal Takht's directive of reviving the SAD on December 2, 2024. The fresh development is being seen as an open challenge to the authority of Sukhir whose leadership, these dissidents claim, has plunged the Akali Dal into a crisis. Former SGPC chiefs Bibi Jagir Kaur and Gobind Singh Longowal, along with Prem Singh Chandumajra, Parminder Dhindsa, Manpreet Singh Ayali and Surjit Singh Rakhra, were present, sending a clear message the breakaway group has their backing. When asked about the name of the faction, Giani Harpreet Singh said it would be the Shiromani Akali Dal. Asked whether they would get it registered with the Election Commission, he said, 'We will make every possible effort. If any need arises to move any court, then we will see it.' Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, one of the descendants of Sikhism's founder Guru Nanak and attended the meeting as a special invitee, proposed the name of Giani Harpreet Singh for president's post. All delegates supported the proposal by raising their hands. The proposal was first endorsed by ex-SGPC chief Longowal and then seconded by Akali leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur. To counter the 'degradation caused by political interference' in Sikh institutions, the panthic council was constituted, which will comprise the office-bearers and dedicated Sikh thinkers. 'The council will work for unity among the Sikh organisations and coordination. The party leadership will take decisions with consent of this council. The party will also revive the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF),' he said. 'Coming to power is not the sole motive of the party. We want to serve the people and panth,' Giani Harpreet Singh said, adding, 'I will never contest any election in my life whether I stay president or not'. Lashing out at the Badal-led party, he said, 'I am very thankful to Sukhbir and his associates that they removed me in such an insulting manner. Had I been not removed, I would have preferred to serve at the Takht and not become president of the Akali Dal'. Giani Harpreet Singh, the former jathedar of the Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, was part of the Sikh clergy that had declared Sukhbir and other Akali leader as 'tankhaiya' (guilty of religious misconduct) on December 2, 2024. In February, the SGPC had dismissed Giani Harpreet Singh as the jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. Earlier, Harpreet had opted out of the race for the post of president. But he was later persuaded to accept the proposal for becoming the president. Kaur is the daughter of the former president of the All India Sikh Students Federation, Amrik Singh, who was killed in Operation Bluestar. The Akal Takht, in its edict, formed a seven-member panel to start a membership drive and hold elections for the post of SAD president and office bearers within six months. A panel comprising SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, Iqbal Singh Jhoonda, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Satwant Kaur was entrusted with this responsibility. The Sukhbir camp, however, initiated its own recruitment drive, citing legalities, a move termed as a violation of the Takht's decree. Showing loyalty to the Sukhbir camp, Dhami and Badungar left the panel following which then Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh issued fresh directions to the Takht-appointed panel in February to start a recruitment drive. On April 12, Badal returned to the helm of the SAD with his unanimous election as president of the party. The Akal Takht-appointed committee, however, started a parallel membership drive in March. After completion of the drive, they held the delegate session. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann said the SAD will see more splits. 'Soon, there will be more presidents in the Akali Dal. Uncertainty prevails over the party's future,' he said.
Indian Express
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Riding high on sentiment, new SAD faction lacks resources, poll machinery
A new faction of Shiromani Akali Dal came into existence Monday. In the past, many Akali leaders broke away from SAD and floated their own outfits, however, almost all failed. The new faction, which former Jathdear Giani Harpreet Singh claimed was the real Shiromani Akali Dal', however, has emerged when the the Panthic party has hit rock bottom. The SAD could win only three seats in 2022, and only one MLA is left with the party, as the other two have already resigned. Still, it won't be easy for the new faction to establish itself. Old leaders in new factions The new faction has many old faces such as MLA Manpreet Singh Akali, former minister Sukrita Singh Rakhra, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and others who broke away from the Shiromani Akali Dal. These leaders also share a negative perception for the alleged acts of the party government from 2007 to 2017, for which Sukhbir Singh Badal apologised at the Akal Takht on December 2, 2024. In the new faction, however, they have the advantage of claiming that they submitted to the edict of the Akal Takht and have distanced themselves from the Badal family. These leaders faced criticism for outsourcing their political job to Badal when they were in SAD. They toed the political line of Badal for more than a decade with little contribution. They also had little coordination with each other. So now, these leaders will not only have to chalk out their political plans but also coordinate with each other. Some fumbles were witnessed in the coordination as the internal discussion on the names of Giani Harpreet Singh and Satwant Kaur spilled out in public, quickly raising questions over the unity of the faction. So far, the only factor that has kept these leaders together is their opposition to Badal. But they will need more than a political rival to stay together. Have the sentiments but lack election machinery The new faction's president, Giani Harpreet Singh , and Panthic Council chairperson, Satwant Kaur, have emerged as good orators who understand the sentiment of the Sikh masses. This is where the SAD lacks. However, SAD has the resources and the election machinery that the new faction doesn't have. Badal is known for his management skills. The new faction would depend upon Giani Harpreet Singh and Satwant Kaur to connect with the masses to cover up for the lack of networking. Alliance Former MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala said that the new faction was open for negotiations with other SAD factions for an alliance. However, the biggest challenge would be how the new faction deals with Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), which has a Member of Parliament in Amritpal Singh. Both sides have been in touch; however, it would not be easy for either side to form an alliance, as both would be claiming the same political ground. Apart from the SAD factions, some of the new faction's leaders have also been interested in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party. SAD is also looking for the same. However, this aspiration could also backfire or create cracks in the new faction. Tarn Taran byelection The Tarn Taran Assembly byelection is around the corner, and it would be the litmus test for both SAD and the new faction. The first challenge for the new faction would be to decide if it wants an alliance for the election with Akali Dal (WPD) or not. The SAD faction's leaders who take the lead in the Tarn Taran bypoll will have an edge for the 2027 Assembly elections.
