Akal Takht panel appoints Giani Harpreet Singh chief of SAD breakaway faction

The Akal Takht-appointed five-member committee on Monday unanimously elected Giani Harpreet Singh as president of the breakaway faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) during a delegate session at Gurdwara Burj Akali Phoola Singh in Amritsar. Satwant Kaur was chosen as chairperson of the Panthic Council.

The panel, which included rebel Akali leaders and was formed through an edict issued by Akal Takht on December 2 last year, declared that it had fulfilled its mandate. The panel had been tasked with conducting a membership drive for the party and holding organisational elections.

The group led by Giani Harpreet Singh, former acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, is seen as a parallel entity to the SAD, led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, while the Panthic Council is termed as the party’s religious wing.

Of 528 delegates, 478 participated in the session. The leaders called their faction as the “real” SAD. 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.”

Flanked by senior rebel Akali leaders, he outlined plans to strengthen the party so it could secure the release of Bandi Sikhs, ensure SGPC elections in a free and fair manner and resolve other Sikh issues. He also announced the formation of a panel to pursue cases of Guru Granth Sahib desecration and bring the culprits to justice.

Calling for the revival of the Akali Dal of 1920, the panel announced that Giani Harpreet Singh, a former Jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, would not contest elections. He was part the Sikh clergy that declared SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders guilty of religious misconduct on December 2, 2024.

In February, the SGPC had dismissed his services as the jathedar of Takht Sri Damdama Sahib. Earlier, he had opted out of the race for the post of president. But he was later persuaded to accept the proposal.

Satwant Kaur, a native of Bhoora Kohna village in Tarn Taran, is the daughter of former All-India Sikh Students Federation head Amrik Singh, who was killed inside the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star in 1984.

The poll process was attended by prominent Akali leaders, including former SGPC presidents Bibi Jagir Kaur and Gobind Singh Longowal and Prem Singh Chandumajra.

Amarjit Singh, former director of the Centre on Studies in Sri Guru Granth Sahib at Guru Nanak Dev University, noted that while many Akali factions had emerged in the past such as those led by Surjit Singh Barnala, Dhindsa and Brahmpura, this one was distinct because it had been constituted under the Akal Takht’s directive, giving it greater legitimacy within the community. The elected heads claim to represent the original Akali Dal and plan to approach the EC for recognition.

The session, meanwhile, passed multiple resolutions. One resolution called for the creation of a single Akal committee to frame rules for appointing the Jathedars of Akal Takht, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib and Takht Sri Damdama Sahib, as well as guidelines for their retirement and service terms.

The poll was conducted under the supervision of Santa Singh Umaidpuri, who was appointed as election officer after notifying the EC. Other panel members included Manpreet Singh Ayali, Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Iqbal Singh Jhunda.

The Badal-led SAD had already rejected the Takht-appointed committee, conducted its own membership drive and re-elected Sukhbir as party president in April.