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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Scripted': SGPC member questions Akal Takht Aug 6 resolution
1 2 Amritsar: Kiranjot Kaur, member, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), has called the Aug 6 resolution adopted by the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht scripted. Kiranjot, granddaughter of Master Tara Singh, a prominent Akali leader and founder of SGPC, posted on her X account on Thursday that "debating on hukamnamas (edict) is not a Panthic maryada (Sikh code of religious conduct) nor is making unclear decisions by converting Akal Takht into an office. " "Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, officiating jathedar, Akal Takht, should clarify whether he accepts the Dec 2, 2024, hukamnama or not? What is the meaning of prohibiting the committee, announced from the rostrum of Akal Takht, from using the name of Akal Takht?" she asked. She questioned how someone who claims to be the Akal Takht jathedar can give concession to someone to not abide by the hukamnama issued from Akal Takht through a resolution. The resolution number 1 adopted on Wednesday reads, "Any group unwilling to honour the directive issued on Dec 2, 2024, is free to pursue its political path. However, such factions must refrain from misleading the Sikh sangat by falsely claiming the patronage of Sri Akal Takht Sahib." Kaur further said that the jathedar, who himself was appointed in alleged violation of maryada, is now setting new precedents — which is wrong. 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 s ilver prices in your area.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Ludhiana delegates elect new leadership of Shiromani Akali Dal and intensify protest against Punjab's land pooling policy.
Ludhiana: A major reshuffle in the Shiromani Akali Dal 's district leadership took place under the watch of MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, as hundreds of party delegates gathered to elect new representatives in a move seen as an attempt to revitalise the party's grassroots. The meeting, held at a local palace venue, was overseen by district election observer Santa Singh Umaidpuri. State- and district-level delegates were elected unanimously with the congregation's approval, party sources said. Addressing the crowd, Ayali congratulated the newly appointed delegates and framed the elections as a turning point for the party, which he said must return to its Panthic roots. "Now is the time to rebuild the real Akali organisation," Ayali said. "The party has had leaders, but it lacked committed workers willing to make sacrifices for Punjab, the Panth, and our farmers." Ayali launched a scathing attack on the previous leadership, accusing them of misusing both the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for personal gain, contributing to the party's decline and widespread resentment among Sikh constituents. He also took aim at the Punjab govt's contentious land-pooling policy, calling it a "farmer desertification scheme." D rawing parallels with the protests against the Centre's now-repealed farm laws, Ayali urged Akali workers and farmers to mobilise against the state's policy. "Just as we stood firm during the farm laws agitation, we must show the same resolve now," he said. Inside the packed hall, chants of "Repeal the land pooling policy" echoed, as workers raised their arms in solidarity and pledged to intensify the campaign. Dakha's loyalty lauded Umaidpuri praised Akali workers from the Dakha constituency for their strong participation in the ongoing recruitment drive, calling it a "record-breaking" response. "It shows Dakha remains committed to Panthic values and the struggle for justice," he said. MSID:: 123144450 413 |
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim granted 40-day parole
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is convicted of rape and murder, walked out of Rohtak's Sunaria jail on Tuesday after he was granted a 40-day parole. Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is convicted of rape and murder, walked out of Rohtak's Sunaria jail on Tuesday after he was granted a 40-day parole. (HT file photo) Ram Rahim left the jail early in the morning and headed to the Sirsa headquarters of the dera in a motorcade. This is his 14th temporary release from the jail since 2020. 'The parole is as per the law and Ram Rahim Singh will stay at his Sirsa-headquartered dera during his parole,' Dera spokesperson and advocate Jitender Khurana said. The dera head, who will turn 58 on August 15, was convicted in 2017 for raping two of his disciples. He along with three others were also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years ago. Ram Rahim's parole and furloughs have been a matter of contention and raised by the families of the victims. Following the grant of the 40-day parole, the dera head has exhausted the count of days he is allowed to stay out of the prison in a calendar year by getting temporary release mandated under the law for a convicted prisoner which is 10 weeks of parole and 21 days of furlough. He was granted a 21-day furlough in April and a 30-day parole in January, ahead of the February 5 Delhi assembly elections. By the time he returns to Sunaria jail at the end of his parole, he would have been out of prison for three months this year. In all, he has spent 326 days out of jail so far. He was granted a 20-day parole on October 1 last year, days before the October 5 Haryana assembly polls. In August last year, he was granted a 21-day furlough. He was granted a three-week furlough from February 7, 2022, barely two weeks before the Punjab assembly elections. Sikh organisations, such as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have criticised the grant of relief to the dera head in the past. On most of the 13 occasions in the past when he was out of jail, he remained at the dera's ashram in Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat. In May last year, the Punjab and Haryana high court had acquitted him and four others in the 2002 murder of the sect's former manager Ranjit Singh, citing 'tainted and sketchy investigation'. Earlier, a special CBI court had sentenced them to life imprisonment in the nearly 20-year-old murder case. It held the dera head guilty of hatching a criminal conspiracy with his co-accused. The Dera Sacha Sauda has a number of followers in Haryana's Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Hisar districts and adjoining areas of Punjab and Rajasthan besides western UP. (With PTI inputs)
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim granted 40-day parole
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples, walked out of Sunaria prison in Haryana's Rohtak on Tuesday after being granted a 40-day parole. Singh will stay at his Sirsa-headquartered Dera during his parole, said Dera spokesperson and advocate Jitender Khurana. Singh, who will turn 58 on August 15, was convicted in 2017 for raping two of his disciples. The Dera chief and three others were also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years ago. By the time Singh will return to jail at the end of his parole, he would have been out of prison for three months this year. He was granted a 21-day furlough in April and a 30-day parole in January, ahead of the February 5 Delhi assembly polls. He was granted a 20-day parole on October 1 last year, days before the October 5 Haryana assembly polls. In August last year, Singh was granted a 21-day furlough. He was granted a three-week furlough from February 7, 2022, barely two weeks before the Punjab assembly polls. Sikh organisations, like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have in the past criticised the grant of relief to Singh. On most of the 13 occasions in the past when Singh was out of jail, he remained at the Dera's ashram in Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat. In May last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court here acquitted Singh and four others in the 2002 murder of the sect's former manager Ranjit Singh, citing "tainted and sketchy" investigations into the matter. Earlier, a special CBI court sentenced them to life imprisonment in the nearly 20-year-old murder case. It held Singh guilty of hatching a criminal conspiracy with his co-accused. The Sirsa-headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda has a number of followers in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states. In Haryana, the Dera has a sizable number of followers in many districts, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Hisar.
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim, rape-murder convict, walks out of Haryana jail again—this time on a 40-day parole
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples, walked out of Sunaria prison in Haryana's Rohtak on Tuesday after being granted a 40-day parole. Singh will stay at his Sirsa-headquartered Dera during his parole, said Dera spokesperson and advocate Jitender Khurana. Singh, who will turn 58 on August 15, was convicted in 2017 for raping two of his disciples. The Dera chief and three others were also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years ago. By the time Singh will return to jail at the end of his parole, he would have been out of prison for three months this year. He was granted a 21-day furlough in April and a 30-day parole in January, ahead of the February 5 Delhi assembly polls. He was granted a 20-day parole on October 1 last year, days before the October 5 Haryana assembly polls. In August last year, Singh was granted a 21-day furlough. He was granted a three-week furlough from February 7, 2022, barely two weeks before the Punjab assembly polls. Sikh organisations, like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have in the past criticised the grant of relief to Singh. On most of the 13 occasions in the past when Singh was out of jail, he remained at the Dera's ashram in Barnawa in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat. In May last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court here acquitted Singh and four others in the 2002 murder of the sect's former manager Ranjit Singh, citing "tainted and sketchy" investigations into the matter. Earlier, a special CBI court sentenced them to life imprisonment in the nearly 20-year-old murder case. It held Singh guilty of hatching a criminal conspiracy with his co-accused. The Sirsa-headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda has a number of followers in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states. In Haryana, the Dera has a sizable number of followers in many districts, including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Hisar.
