Removal of jathedars triggers revolt in SAD

In a revolt in the Sukhbir Badal camp of the SAD over the removal of the jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, several senior leaders and former ministers, including Sukhbir’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia, have condemned the SGPC interim committee’s decision.

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Fissures have developed in the party over the SGPC committee’s decision with several leaders of the district units of the party in Punjab and Haryana resigning in protest.

The SGPC committee had removed Giani Raghbir Singh from the post of Akal Takht Jathedar and Giani Sultan Singh from the post of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar on March 7.

The SAD has not yet responded to the criticism by Majithia and others. Earlier in the day, it postponed the March 10 meeting of the party’s parliamentary board, which was meant to start the process for the election of the new leadership, to March 17.

Party spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema said the meeting was postponed in view of the installation of Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as head of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib.

A signed statement issued by party leaders Majithia, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, Zodh Singh Samra, constituency in-charge, Ajnala, Sarabjot Singh Sabi, constituency in-charge, Mukerian, Ramandeep Singh Sandhu, district president, Gurdaspur, and Simranjit Singh Dhillon, youth leader, said they did not agree with the decision of the SGPC committee.

Majithia has backstabbed Sukhbir: Bhunder

SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder said Majithia’s statement amounted to backstabbing the Badal family, especially Sukhbir Badal who stood by Majithia in his bad times (referring to the drug case against him). Bhunder said the decision was taken after due deliberation by the SGPC committee.

This is the first time that Majithia and the others have voiced their opinion independently on any crisis faced by the SAD after Akal Takht sacked the party leadership for committing several mistakes since 2007 that harmed the Sikh Panth.

The leaders said the decision had caused deep distress among the Sikh sangat.

Asking all leaders, including rebels, to unite, they said the situation had arisen due to a struggle for power and leadership in the Akali Dal.

The party has been facing several crises after it lost the 2022 Assembly elections.

In August 2024, a number of leaders revolted and formed an Akali Dal reform movement and approached then Akal Takht Jathedar Raghbir Singh to dissolve the party leadership and roll out the process for setting up a new leadership.

Akal Takht declared Sukhbir Badal and several leaders as “tankhayia” (guilty of religious misconduct) on December 2 last year and formed a seven-member panel to carry out a membership drive of the party and elect new leaders.

However, Akalis did not accept the new panel. The party accepted the resignation of Sukhbir Badal from the post of president after much dilly-dallying and authorised its working committee to carry out the membership drive and hold elections.

Later, SGPC president HS Dhami, who was the head of the Akal Takht-formed seven-member panel to carry out the SAD membership drive and election process, resigned.

There was pressure from Giani Raghbir Singh to withdraw some of his edicts against the Akali leadership, but he did not relent from his position. The SGPC, which appoints jathedars, has remained under the control of the Badal family for long now.