Major Revolt Breaks Out Within Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Over Jathedar Removal

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): A significant revolt has broken out within the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Sukhbir Badal, following the recent removal of Jathedars of Akal Takht and Kesgarh Sahib. Senior party leaders, including Sukhbir Badal’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia, have strongly condemned the decision, deepening the rift within the party.

On March 7, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) interim committee removed Giani Raghbir Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht and Giani Sultan Singh as Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. This controversial move has led to widespread protests, with several leaders from the party's district units in Punjab and Haryana resigning in protest.

Majithia, along with other senior leaders, issued a statement criticizing the SGPC's decision. The leaders emphasized the need to preserve the dignity and respect of Akal Takht Sahib and called for unity among the Sikh community (Panthic unity). In response to the turmoil, SAD has postponed its March 10 meeting, which was originally scheduled to begin the election process for new leadership. The meeting will now take place on March 17. SAD spokesperson Dr. Daljeet Singh Cheema cited the formal installation of Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as head of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib as the reason for the delay.

In a signed statement, 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, SAD) expressed their opposition to the SGPC interim committee's decision. This is the first time since 2007, when Akal Takht had sacked the SAD leadership for harming the Sikh Panth, that Majithia and other party leaders have independently spoken out on such a crisis. They strongly disagreed with the decision to remove the Jathedars, citing the distress it had caused among the Sikh Sangat (community).

The leaders also called for unity among all factions within the party, including those currently in rebellion, acknowledging that the current crisis stems from the ongoing struggle for power and leadership within the Akali Dal. This revolt adds to the growing list of challenges for SAD, which has faced internal turmoil since its downfall began following the 2022 Assembly election.

The division within the party deepened further in August 2024, when several leaders formed an Akali Dal reform movement and called for the dissolution of the party's leadership. They approached Akal Takht Jathedar Raghbir Singh, requesting that the party leadership and its roll system be dissolved to establish new leadership. In response, on December 2, 2024, Akal Takht declared Sukhbir Badal and other SAD leaders “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) and formed a seven-member panel to oversee a membership drive and election of new leaders.

The Akalis, however, rejected the new panel. After some hesitation, the party eventually accepted Sukhbir Badal’s resignation as president and authorized its working committee to conduct the membership drive and elections. In a further blow to the Badal family’s influence, SGPC President HS Dhami, who had headed the seven-member panel formed by Akal Takht, also resigned.

Amid these challenges, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh faced mounting pressure to retract some of his edicts against the Akali leadership, but he stood firm, refusing to back down. Notably, the SGPC, which is responsible for appointing Jathedars, has long been under the control of the Badal family, further complicating the power dynamics within the party.