Latest news with #Sukhbir-led
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SGPC chief Dhami slams Giani Harpreet, says breakaway faction will deepen divisions in Panth
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday said that the elevation of former Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh as the head of the breakaway Akali Dal faction will further intensify the fight within the community. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami addressing a press conference on Tuesday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT) Replying to queries on the delegate session called by the Akal Takht-appointed committee mandated to recast the SAD, Dhami said the entire exercise was to make two Akali Dals. 'When I first heard that Giani Harpreet Singh wants to become president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), I questioned him about this. He himself said that if both groups wished, he might become the president. Now, his long-cherished wish has been accomplished. This has created divisions in the panth. This will intensify the fight within the community,' Dhami said. Dhami said that as the chairperson of the seven-member committee, he made efforts to unite both the groups. 'I wanted to prevent the internal dispute in the panth. When I saw that my efforts were going in vain, I resigned from the committee and presidency of the SGPC,' he added. Dhami also questioned the delegate session and alleged that the entire process was pre-planned. 'They said they have elected 500 delegates. Have you got a list of the delegates? They are talking about the restoration of democracy within the party. Surjit Singh Rakhra announced a day before that Giani Harpreet Singh would become president and Satwant Kaur would head the panthic council. They failed to introduce a new system. Everything was finalised before the meeting of the delegates', he said. Dhami said SAD had split in the past as well, and through the election, people decided which one was real. 'However, I never saw that president of one faction calling for snatching of SGPC, party symbol and office. Is there any connection behind this language used by Giani Harpreet Singh? Such things never happened in the Sikh panth before. What is the intuition behind this statement? Anyone can contest SGPC elections to take its control?' the SGPC chief added. Responding to Giani Harpreet Singh's allegation that Centre is not conducting SGPC elections because it is in understanding with Sukhbir-led SAD, the SGPC chief said, 'This is not happening first time. There is no role of the SAD to prevent the polls. Punjab and Haryana high court has stayed the process after a petition was filed in this regard'. Hitting back at Dhami, some of the SGPC members, including Mithu Singh Kahneke, Malkit Singh Changal, Satwinder Singh Tohra and Jarnail Singh Kartarpur said, 'The internal war was started by none other than Sukhbir Singh Badal, and the SGPC chief supported him. Amid the calls for his resignation as party chief, Sukhbir started expelling his colleagues. That was the beginning of the internal war.' 'Sukhbir didn't implement the Jhundan committee report. It was all about monopolising control over the party. If Sukhbir had given up his control and allowed a universally accepted presidium to be formed, or appointed another president, or had a president elected through the seven-member committee, we would not be seeing this day today,' Kahneke said.
Hindustan Times
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Satwant Kaur, Giani Harpreet emerge as contenders for SAD prez's post
Bibi Satwant Kaur and former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh have emerged as frontrunners for the top post as the five-member committee, constituted by the Akal Takht on December 2 last year to supervise the recast of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), gears up for its delegate session. Giani Harpreet Singh While one of the group, consisting two members of Takht appointed panel, are backing Kaur, who is daughter of Amrik Singh, the other faction, led by a leader who led the SAD rebel faction who approached Akal Takht for course correction, has puts its weight behind Giani Harpreet Singh to be at the helm of the new faction of SAD. The election for the office bearers has been fixed for August 11; however, so far, a venue has not been finalised. The delegates elected from among 26 lakh members recruited by the five-member committee will elect the office bearers. 'We are trying for a consensus, and every senior leader will get a respectable role in the party matters,' Manpreet Singh Ayali said on being asked about the presidential candidate. Ayali refused to comment on his choice of the top leader and said, 'The delegates will have a final say.' Bibi Satwant Kaur was serving in a senior position in the education wing of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and comes from a panthic family. Her father, Amrik Singh, was an associate of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and was killed during Operation Bluestar. Amrik's father, Kartar Singh Bhindranwale, remained head of Damdami Taksal. She was among the seven members named by Akal Takht, which included SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, former president Kirpal Singh Badungar, Ayali, Jhundan, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Santa Singh Umaidpur. Dhami and Badungar resigned, after which the five members started a membership drive in March. Giani Harpreet Singh, who was jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, was one of the key curators of the December 2 edict. He was later removed by SGPC but continued to support the membership drive and was also critical of the SAD leaders, including party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. Wadala said that, as per feedback and sentiment in the panthic circles, Giani Harpreet is emerging as a choice for the top post. 'He is an intellectual, possesses panthic ideals. He has not compromised with principles and traditions,' Wadala said. Giani Harpreet Singh also faced criticism from the Sukhbir-led SAD, which alleged that he had a tacit understanding with the BJP.
Hindustan Times
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Akal Takht panel's delegate meet: SGPC puts ball in Takht jathedar's court
In a fix over the Takht-appointed panel's request to hold a delegate session at its headquarters, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has asked jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to take a final call on the issue. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee has asked jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to take a final call on the issue. The Takht-appointed panel, which is to oversee the reorganisation of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), as per the mandate pronounced during the December 2 decree last year from the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs by clergy, had announced their delegate session on August 11 at Teja Singh Samundri Hall, headquarters of the gurdwara body. The five-member panel, including Iqbal Singh Jhudan, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Satwant Kaur, conducted a parallel membership drive and is now geared up to hold elections of party president and other office-bearers. However, the request has Badal-controlled SGPC in a fix. Sukhbir Singh Badal-led SAD camp, which never accepted the decree in totality, had conducted its delegate meeting on April 12 at the SGPC headquarters. SGPC dilemma stems from two factors, one, how will the Sukhbir-led camp in the gurdwara body react to giving 'rebel' leaders space and secondly, not allowing it will be viewed as a defiance to the Takht's December 2 decree. Trying to wriggle out of the situation, the SGPC chief secretary, Kulwant Singh Manan, has written a letter to Akal Takht jathedar requesting him to issue directions from the highest Sikh temporal seat in this regard. The written request of the Akal Takht panel was also forwarded to the jathedar. Sources, privy to the development, confirmed the communication sent by the SGPC. When contacted, Manan neither confirmed nor denied sending a letter to Akal Takht but said: 'The panel will get an answer in two to three days.' This matter was to be deliberated in the Sikh clergy meeting on August 1. But it was deferred to August 6 after the brother-in-law of jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj passed away. While awarding tankhah (religious punishment) to Sukhbir Singh Badal and other party leaders for the mistakes committed by the party and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017 on complaint of rebels, the Akal Takht had on December 2 last year stated that the SAD leadership had lost the moral right to give political patronage to the Sikh Panth because of their 'sins'. The Sukhbir camp had initiated its recruitment drive, citing legalities, a move termed as a violation of the Takht's decree. Akal Takht then jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh had given Takht-appointed panel nod in February to start a recruitment drive.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Punjab BJP chief makes emotive pitch for alliance revival, mixed reactions from Akali side
There is a fresh buzz around a possible revival of the ties between the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, long-term allies who fell apart during the farm law protests. The speculation isn't new. Last year too, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, talks of a SAD-BJP revival had gained traction in political circles. Back then, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar had said 'if the SAD-BJP alliance happens, it will be as per the emotion of masses'. However, the parties eventually decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently amid fresh farmers' protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, with the BJP-led Central government under fire for holding out on the demand for legally guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP). As the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab draw near, the conversation around the alliance has returned, with Jakhar this time reiterating the need for a SAD-BJP partnership. 'The alliance in the state is the need of the hour as forces inimical to Punjab are once again active,' said Jakhar. Making an emotive pitch for the alliance, Jakhar said, 'Punjab is not just a state — it's a deeply emotional and self-respecting society. Punjabis are resilient, proud of their history, and driven by sentiment. But over time, they feel they have been wronged, their sacrifices unrecognised, and their contributions overlooked. They seek more than financial packages… They seek recognition, respect, and a sense of belonging.' 'Pagri means not only turban, but also symbolises 'sardari' — self-esteem. The people of Punjab need a party that speaks from the heart, not just as administrators but as one of their own. That's where the BJP needs to position itself — with young, credible, honest, and uncompromised leaders who represent the spirit of Punjab. Our focus should not be about electoral gains, but gaining the trust of Punjabis,' Jakhar added. However, not all on the Akali side have welcomed the idea. While leaders of a rebel SAD faction dismissed the alliance proposal, the Sukhbir Badal-led party took a cautious line. Daljeet Singh Cheema, a former state minister and senior leader in the Sukhbir-led SAD, said, 'Jakhar sahab's statement reflects public sentiment and his personal political experience. We too sense this sentiment — rural and urban Punjab both desire a stable and secular government. However, whether or not an alliance is formed will be decided on the party platform after evaluating many factors.' However, Charanjeet Singh Brar, a senior leader from the rebel faction of the SAD that has aligned with the Akal Takht (which is the highest seat of Sikh temporal authority and had last year held Sukhbir guilty of religious misconduct), questioned Jakhar's eagerness. 'Why is Sunil Jakhar in such a hurry for an alliance when the Akali Dal is at its all-time low? What about unresolved issues — the control of gurdwara committees in Haryana and Delhi, Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences but remain in jail, and the pending Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections for over 15 years?' Brar said. A senior leader from the same rebel faction, speaking on condition of anonymity, also challenged Jakhar's contention that the 'public sentiment and political situation is similar to that of 1996', the year the SAD and BJP first came together. 'How can Jakhar equate the 1996 conditions with today? Back then, the SAD was strong and the BJP was emerging. Now, the SAD is at its weakest while the BJP is at its peak nationally. Is this eagerness for an alliance with the Akali Dal or the Badal family?' the leader said. The SAD-BJP alliance was first forged in 1996, at a time when Punjab was recovering from a period of Khalistani militancy. In the 1997 state elections, the alliance won a thumping majority with 95 seats in the 117-member Assembly. After the alliance broke in 2020, the parties contested the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls independently, but neither tasted success. Though the BJP's vote share has improved over the years, it has not translated into seats. Since falling out of power in 2017, the SAD's influence and vote bank have eroded as it faced a series of controversies – from the sacrilege cases in 2015 to last year's standoff between Sukhbir and the Akal Takht. In the 2022 Assembly polls, the SAD and BJP won three and two seats respectively. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SAD won only one seat while the BJP failed to win any. In subsequent bypolls too, the two parties failed to make an impact. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said they were not worrying about the old allies coming together. Neel Garg, senior AAP spokesperson, said, 'Zero plus zero equals zero. Since 1996, when the alliance was formed, Punjab has seen a downfall in farming, panthic norms, and federal values. The Akali Dal hit rock bottom due to incidents like the Bargari sacrilege, where culprits were never arrested. The BJP's role in pushing the three farm laws led to the loss of over 750 farmers' lives. Punjab hasn't forgotten and won't forgive.' Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the AAP's sentiments. 'Sunil Jakhar has a hidden alliance with the Akali Dal already… Why did the BJP break the alliance with the SAD in the first place? Earlier they thought they could do something on their own in Punjab, and now that they are being shown the ground realities by voters … they have started remembering communal harmony all of a sudden. The Akali Dal is already dead and hence zero plus zero is equal to zero only.'
