Sikh Scholars Doubt Quick Revival of SAD in Punjab Politics
Sukhbir Singh Badal and SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. Image credit Bhawna Malik
Sukhbir Singh Badal Stares at Long Road for Punjab Politics Comeback
By Bhawna Malik
Chandigarh, December 16: Attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supremo Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Golden Temple is compared with assassination of former Punjab DIG A S. Atwal in 1983. Atwal too was shot dead in the premises of Golden Temple and the modus operandi seemed similar which questioned the security paraphernalia.
Badal is Z+ security protected former chief minister of Punjab. The SAD along with its leaders lose credibility as a Panthic, for alleged mistakes committed during 2007-17. Badal along with other senior leaders have been declared ‘Tankhaiya’ by the Akal Takht Sahib, the supreme political seat of the Sikhs.
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Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar has also been disbanded. Rebel Akali leaders are willing to rejoin the SAD in compliance with the directive of Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. “The reorganisation process has some technical glitches. The re-election process of the new office bearers requires following the ECI guidelines. Hence, legal advice is being sought,” said the SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami.
Following the ‘punishment’, Badal had to perform ‘Sewa (service)’ in the premises of Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar, popularly known as The Golden Temple. The remaining ‘Sewa’ has to be completed at the Anandpur Sahib and other historical Gurudwaras.
Senior Akali leaders Prem Singh Chandumanjra and Daljeet Singh Cheema were asked to clean toilets of the Gurudwara sahib. Badal, who is suffering from injuries in a leg, had to serve as a guard, carrying a ‘Barcha’ as is the norm with other guards at the gurudwara premises.
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Badal’s leadership of the SAD remains a question. A decision has been reserved. Ex-CM of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal was stripped off his title of ‘Fakhre-e-Qaum’.
Badal is facing the ire of the religious leaders for his alleged failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents and also for pardoning Sacha Sauda Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2007 blasphemy case. The incidents had deeply hurt Sikh religious sentiments. The BJP-Akali coalition had also reached a rough patch during the farmers’ protest at the Singhu border.
Akali leaders accepted the charges pressed on them by the Singh ‘Sahibans’ – Giani Sultan Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib; Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar Akal Takht Sahib; Giani Harpreet Singh, Jathedar Damdama Sahib; Harmandar Sahib, Granthi Bhai Gurinder Singh; and Granthi Giani Baljit Singh.
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Chandumajra was one of the members of the eight-member Executive Committee of the ‘Sudhar Lehar’, which sought removal of Badal from the post of the chief of the SAD. The committee also sought Badal’s questioning at the Sri Akal Takht Sahib.
Other rebel leaders included Sukhdev Singh Dhindhsa, Bibi Jagir Kaur, former Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka, Baldev Singh Mann, and Sarwan Singh Philaur and former MLA Justice Nirmal Singh (retd) and Prakash Singh Chand.
Sikh scholars feel that it’s a huge challenge for the SAD to revive. They argue that the SAD may struggle to work on original Akali morals and values. Besides, Badal and his associates accepting charges pressed against them has also impacted the religious-political scenario of Sikh polity.
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