Akal Takht committee schedules next meeting, invites SAD working president

The seven-member committee constituted by the Akal Takht held its maiden meeting today at Panth Ratan Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra Institute of Advanced Studies in Sikhism in Bahadurgarh, Patiala. The meeting was chaired by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami.

The committee unanimously decided to invite SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder to its next meeting, scheduled for February 11. The meeting will discuss the ongoing membership drive of SAD, which has been a point of contention.

On December 2, while pronouncing ‘tankha’ (religious punishment) to the ‘guilty’ SAD leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, the Akal Takht had constituted the seven-member committee, headed by Dhami, to oversee the resurrection of SAD. The committee has been authorised to induct new members, appoint delegates, and conduct a presidential election as per the party’s constitution.

After the meeting, Dhami said the discussion focused on the Akal Takht’s directions regarding the resurrection of SAD. He appealed to all SAD leaders to join hands to strengthen the party. “It was decided to invite SAD’s working president in the next meeting,” he said.

The other members of the committee who attended the meeting included Kirpal Singh Badhungar, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umedpur, and Satwant Kaur.