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India Today
7 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Why Giani Harpreet Singh's move to head Akali faction is a gamble in Punjab's panthic politics
On August 9, Giani Harpreet Singh, former jathedar of the Akal Takht, was chosen to head a breakaway faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), marking an unusual but not unprecedented crossing from religious authority to political last such instance was of Teja Singh Akarpuri in 1940, who also moved from leading the Sikh temporal seat to presiding over the Akali Dal. But unlike Akarpuri's time, Harpreet Singh steps into an arena already fractured, wherein the mainstream SAD, led by Sukhbir Badal, faces its sharpest decline while multiple factions jostle for space in Punjab's political and religious Singh's journey to this point has been steeped in both reverence and controversy. Appointed Akal Takht jathedar in 2018, he was seen as a relatively moderate voice. But his tenure saw friction with both the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and political leadership, particularly after he called for the Sikh youth to learn the use of traditional arms—a remark that drew criticism from as well as the state January 2023, under pressure from the SGPC leadership closely aligned with Sukhbir Badal, Harpreet Singh was asked to step down—officially 'on his own request' but widely seen as a forced resignation. Later, his stint as jathedar of the Damdami Taksal—an influential Sikh seminary with a storied and controversial past—also ended abruptly when he was removed by the institution's leadership, reportedly over differences in outreach and ideological positioning. Despite these setbacks, Harpreet Singh's proximity to senior Akali leaders remained intact. He has maintained warm ties with Sukhbir Badal and current SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, navigating the porous line between religious leadership and political Singh's latest elevation comes at a time when the breakaway faction he now leads is making a calculated bid to woo the Panthic hardline vote. The faction had considered other symbolic choices, such as Satwant Kaur, daughter of Amrik Singh Bhindranwale, a close aide of slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, but ultimately settled on Harpreet Singh, betting on his recognition, clerical aura and ability to bridge the moderate and radical move is also an unmistakable signal towards building an alliance of radical sympathisers within the political fold. Harpreet Singh's leadership is expected to resonate with controversial figures, such as MPs Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa and Amritpal Singh, who have a vocal support base among hardline Sikh the Akali faction, it's a way to tap into disillusionment with both the mainstream SAD and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), thereby hoping to revive a brand of panthic politics largely relegated to the margins since the militancy years. But the gamble carries risks—aligning too closely with radical sentiment could alienate the middle-ground Sikh electorate and invite heightened scrutiny from security the shifting chessboard of Punjab politics, Harpreet Singh's rise is both a throwback to an era when religious and political authority often overlapped and a test case for whether such a model can still deliver electoral dividends. The historical precedent is clear, but the context is starkly different: today's Punjab is less homogenous, more politically fragmented and more wary of overt Harpreet Singh can navigate these crosscurrents, he could breathe life into a faltering faction; if not, his move from the Takht to political takht could become just another footnote in Punjab's long history of Panthic to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Badal condemns denial of entry to Sikh girl to Rajasthan exam centre for wearing kirpan, kara
Sukhbir Badal, Shiromani Akali Dal president, has condemned an incident in Jaipur where a Sikh girl was barred from a judicial services exam for wearing Sikh religious symbols. Badal cited a violation of constitutional rights and urged Prime Minister Modi to intervene, highlighting increasing disrespect towards Sikh identity. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal SAD ) president Sukhbir Badal on Sunday claimed a baptised Sikh girl from Punjab's Tarn Taran district was stopped from entering a centre for Rajasthan Judicial Services examination in Jaipur as she was wearing 'kara' and 'kirpan', both sacred articles of Sikh faith."This was a gross violation of her constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 25 and it denied her fundamental right to practise her religion. Article 25 of the Constitution specifically mentions 'kirpan' among other symbols of Sikh religion, which are exempt from any bar, even in flights," Badal said in a SAD chief expressed grave concern over "growing" incidents of disrespect and discrimination against the sacred symbols of Sikh religion, and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter to put an end to this "painful chain of events" in the a letter, Badal drew Modi's attention to the latest incident in which Gurpreet Kaur from Tarn Taran was stopped from entering the examination centre in Jaipur."It is shocking that rules, if any, are framed by lower authorities flouting the sacred Constitution of India. The government of India should issue -- or, if necessary -- re-issue clear cut guidelines to all states and Union territories about the exemption to the inseparable articles of faith," Badal said in his letter to the prime Akali Dal chief said this was not a one-off incident but part of the ever-increasing number of examples of religious intolerance towards the uniqueness of Sikh a similar incident last year, two Sikh girls were stopped from appearing for the Rajasthan Judicial Services (RJS) exam in Jodhpur."Sikhs and their identity are inseparable and this was duly acknowledged and constitutionally mandated for compliance for all purposes in the country."But some officials at lower rungs deem themselves above the Constitution. This must stop as this vitiates communal harmony in the country," Badal also urged the Rajasthan High Court to provide the Sikh girl a special opportunity to appear for the RJS exam, ensuring that her right to uphold her faith is in the day, the SAD chief asked Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma to take strict action in the matter to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in his state.
News18
15-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan's New Punjab Blueprint: Golden Temple At The Heart Of ISI's Hybrid War Plan
Intelligence inputs accessed on July 14, 2025, reveal a renewed push to use the sacred site as both a shield and a trigger. A sinister new blueprint by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), accessed by CNN-News18, aims to destabilise Punjab using a hybrid warfare model that mixes terrorism, psychological operations, digital propaganda, and religious manipulation. Intelligence agencies have confirmed that ISI is reviving tactics reminiscent of the 1980s insurgency period — this time with advanced tools and global collaboration — to trigger unrest centered around the Golden Temple. Golden Temple: Symbol, Shield, and Target The core of the new operational blueprint is the tactical and symbolic exploitation of the Golden Temple. Intelligence inputs accessed on July 14, 2025, reveal a renewed push to use the sacred site as both a shield and a trigger. The recent bomb threat email received by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), referencing RDX, points to coordinated efforts by ISI-backed groups to provoke mass outrage through calculated targeting of religious sensitivities. Officials warn that any miscalculated action near the shrine could lead to a nationwide standoff, comparable to the events of 1984. The Golden Temple's sanctity makes it difficult to fully police, thereby creating security blind spots that ISI intends to exploit for arms dumps, propaganda filming, and sheltering operatives. The convergence of religious emotion, political symbolism, and lack of surveillance provides ISI with a potent recipe for unrest. Tech, Terror, and Trauma: Tools of Psychological Warfare Social media platforms, encrypted messaging apps such as Threema and Element, and diaspora-driven campaigns are being weaponised to incite separatist sentiment. Unofficial Khalistan referendums have been inflated with false participation claims — 127,000 in San Francisco, 55,000 in Calgary, and 37,000 in New Zealand — used not only for propaganda but also as fundraising tools through NGO fronts. Gangster-Terror Nexus and Cross-Border Logistics Pakistan's strategy leans heavily on the deepening nexus between gangsters and Khalistani terror outfits. Operatives like Goldy Brar have claimed responsibility for killings in Russia and California, showcasing a chilling international reach. The assassination attempt on Shiromani Akali Dal's Sukhbir Badal near the Golden Temple by Chaura, a Pakistan-trained Babbar Khalsa terrorist, is another example of targeted violence backed by decades-old terror linkages. Drone incursions continue to be a critical conduit for cross-border smuggling. In 2024 alone, Punjab recorded 286 such instances involving AK rifles, heroin, IEDs, and even satellite phones. Border districts like Tarn Taran and Ferozepur have emerged as key nodes for these operations. Digital Insurgency and Diaspora Involvement Key figures like Gurpatwant Singh Pannun have escalated their rhetoric, threatening events such as Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and invoking terror tactics similar to Hamas. From prison, Amritpal Singh has announced the launch of a political party, pledging to declare Khalistan within a year if elected — further blurring the lines between secessionist ideology and democratic posturing. The use of psychological tactics is relentless. The 19 fake threats to Air India in three days during 2024, later traced to SFJ's digital disruption campaigns, underscore the new era of 'keyboard insurgency." Posters glorifying Bhindranwale, calls for embassy attacks, and AI-generated narratives about injustice against Sikhs continue to flood diaspora and domestic spaces. Crackdown and Countermeasures Indian agencies have responded with intensified crackdowns. In 2024, 66 terrorists were arrested, 12 active modules were neutralised, and 1,099 kg of heroin was seized. The NIA blocked over 7,500 radical URLs, seized Rs 73 crore from terror-linked scams, and invoked the UAPA to target SFJ operatives' digital and financial assets. Courts have denied bail in key cases, signalling a firm judicial stance. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
AAP has become so afraid of Akali Dal, says Sukhbir Badal after courting arrest
Chandigarh: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday courted arrest along with Akali workers to protest the registration of a case against senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The SAD President was stopped by police squads from visiting gurdwara Sri Amb Sahib to pay obeisance, after which he was scheduled to lead Akali workers to the Vigilance Bureau office to protest against political vendetta against Majithia. A large number of Akali workers were forcibly taken away by heavy police contingents deployed to prevent them from paying obeisance and assembling inside the sacred precincts of the Gurdwara Sahib. 'AAP has become so afraid of the Shiromani Akali Dal that it conducted a state-level crackdown on Akali workers and detained hundreds of senior leaders and workers at their residences besides undertaking preventive arrests,' Badal told the media at the protest site. 'Everything in Punjab is being directed and run by the communal non-Punjabi Arvind Kejriwal. Police cases are just a façade. We will not allow Punjab to be ruled by communal elements from Delhi,' said Badal, while speaking to the media from a police van. Badal further said Kejriwal had fallen back on repression as his last desperate measure to divert people's attention from the 'loot that his gang was currently carrying out in Punjab'. Repression and political vendetta, he said, are the last resort taken by all unpopular and rootless leaders. Describing the crackdown on peaceful Akalis as worse than the one during Emergency or even during the Jaitu Da Morcha, he said not even during those days were Sikhs stopped from going to their sacred shrines as Akali workers were stopped on Wednesday from peacefully visiting Gurdham Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. Badal said, 'I don't care about this repression against me personally, as defiance against repression runs in my blood. But I warn the government against repression against our peaceful Akali workers.' He described Wednesday's developments as 'broad daylight murder of democracy, civil liberties and human rights. Where are the champions of human rights today?'
Scroll.in
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
SAD leader Bikram Majithia arrested for alleged money laundering linked to drugs case
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia for allegedly laundering more than Rs 540 crore of alleged 'drug money', the Hindustan Times reported. The former state minister was arrested after vigilance officers conducted a raid at his Amritsar home. A first information report was registered in the matter based on an investigation into a drug case conducted by a Special Investigation Team, the Hindustan Times reported. The SIT had uncovered the alleged money-laundering operation involving more than Rs 540 crore. Assets in the names of Majithia and his wife, an MLA, had increased substantially, for which no legitimate sources of income were provided, PTI quoted a bureau spokesperson as saying. Majithia was booked under sections of the 1988 Prevention of Corruption Act pertaining to criminal misconduct by a public servant, according to the Hindustan Times. Section 13(1)(b), one of the provisions he was booked under, pertains to offences in which a public servant dishonestly or fraudulently misappropriates or converts a property under their control as a public servant for personal use. The case stems from the findings of an investigation into a 2021 drug case registered against Majithia. The former minister was arrested in the earlier case in February 2022 and was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022. The 2021 case against him was registered under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The prosecutors have alleged that Majithia provided logistical and financial support to persons involved in a drug-trafficking racket, the Hindustan Times reported. On Wednesday, Majithia said that the raid conducted at his home ' shows the arrogance ' of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the state's ruling Aam Aadmi Party. The AAP government was flouting the law, Majithia said on social media. SAD claims 'political vendetta' SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and several party leaders criticised the state government and claimed that the allegations against Majithia were ' political vendetta '. Registering false cases is a criminal act, Sukhbir Badal said on social media. 'Officers should know that inquiries into all such false cases and acts of suppression committed during this government's tenure will surely be conducted at the appropriate time,' he said. 'I urge the police personnel not to break the law, as the change of guard is just one and a half year away.' Former Union minister and SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that the developments were an attempt to ' suppress the voice of truth'.
