Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) president Giani Harpreet Singh on Tuesday accused the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of adopting a contradictory stand regarding an Akal Takht edict that directed the party to undergo restructuring under the supervision of a seven-member panel appointed by the temporal authority.
Background of the Edict
The edict was issued on December 2, 2024, by five Sikh high priests, including Giani Harpreet Singh, after Sukhbir Badal and other party leaders were found guilty of religious misconduct related to Sikh issues during the party's decade-long rule from 2007 to 2017. The Akal Takht also formed a seven-member panel to conduct a membership drive for the party.
Contradictory Response from SAD
While Sukhbir Badal underwent the religious punishment handed down by the Akal Takht, his party rejected the panel, citing legal and constitutional obligations. Instead, SAD conducted its own membership drive, which led to the re-election of Badal as party president. Giani Harpreet Singh criticized this stance, alleging that SAD's legal advisers had argued that political parties could not comply with certain Akal Takht directives due to constitutional and Election Commission provisions.
Comparison with AAP
Reacting to the appearance of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs before the Akal Takht on Monday regarding the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, Giani Harpreet Singh expressed gratitude that AAP did not have "legal advisers like SAD leaders." He claimed that if leaders such as Daljit Singh Cheema, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, and Parmjeet Singh Sarna had been advising AAP, they would have argued that the party's MLAs could not appear before the Akal Takht as it could "invite constitutional complications or even affect the party's recognition." Cheema, Grewal, and Sarna are considered close confidants of Sukhbir Singh Badal.
SAD's Defense
Reacting to the allegations, Daljit Singh Cheema said there was a clear distinction between summoning MLAs of all political parties to the Akal Takht and interfering in the internal election process of a political party. Cheema alleged that the Congress had approached the Election Commission seeking cancellation of SAD's recognition, and claimed that Giani Harpreet had acted "hand in glove" with other parties to weaken the SAD. Slamming Giani Harpreet, Cheema said, "He is now speaking in favour of the incumbent government."
