Maintain sanctity of committee formed by Takht: Akali rebels

Dissident Shiromani Akali Dal leaders on Thursday approached Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh seeking directions to the party to “maintain the sanctity” of the seven-member committee constituted by the temporal seat to restructure the party.

Gurpartap Singh Wadala and Santa Singh Umaidpur, the two members of the Akal Takht-formed committee, met the Jathedar and expressed resentment against the SAD leadership for defying the December 2 edict pronounced by the Sikh clergy.

Wadala said the Jathedar had declared that only the Takht-constituted panel should be entrusted with the responsibility of revamping the party.

“Despite clear instructions by the Jathedar, SAD overlooked it. This compelled us to meet the Jathedar who specifically told us that only the Akal Takht committee has been authorised to oversee the membership drive,” he said.

They also submitted a letter addressed to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami requesting him to hold a meeting of the committee headed by him.

On December 2, while awarding a religious punishment to former SAD president Sukhbir Badal and other senior leaders for “mistakes” committed during the party’s decade-long rule from 2007-17, the Akal Takht had constituted the committee and asked the party to undertake a six-month long membership drive.

It had also asked the party to accept Sukhbir’s resignation, which was accepted by SAD after much hesitation and delay. The members of the committee are former SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpur and Satwant Kaur.