SAD Chief Sukhbir Badal Summoned By Top Sikh Body Akal Takht Jathedar Over Rebel Leaders' Allegations

Sukhbir Badal has been asked by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to appear in person before the Akal Takht and submit a written explanation on the accusations levelled by rebel leaders'.

SAD Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Source : PTI

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has been summoned by Akal Takht on the allegations levelled by rebel leaders of the Akali Dal. He has been asked by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Monday to appear in person before the Akal Takht and submit a written explanation on rebel leaders' accusations that "he did not represent the sentiments of the panth."

Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs. The Jathedar has asked Badal to give an explanation within 15 days.

The rebel Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders appeared before the jathedar of the Akal Takht on July 1 and apologised for the "mistakes" committed when their party was in power in the state between 2007 and 2017, as reported by news agency PTI.

Besides, a clarification has also been sought from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) pertaining to the allegations levelled by some Akali leaders about spending Rs 90 lakh on advertisements.

Following a meeting of five Sikh high priests, which was held, the jathedar issued a statement. In the statement issued by the Akal Takht, it said, "As per a complaint received by the Akal Takht Sahib from some senior leaders of the Akali Dal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal did not represent the sentiments of the 'panth'," as quoted by PTI. 

Therefore, Badal has been asked to personally appear before the Akal Takht Sahib to give a written explanation of the accusations within 15 days.

"Clarification has been sought from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee with regard to accusations levelled by some Akali leaders about spending Rs 90 lakh on advertisements," the statement further read. 

Meanwhile, in response to a question on the jathedar asking the SAD chief to give his explanation, rebel Akali leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala hailed it and said in Chandigarh, "The Sikh community expects from them (five Sikh high priests) that they will take a right decision which is acceptable to everyone and it is as per Sikh tenets," as quoted by PTI.

On July 1, the rebel SAD leaders appeared before the jathedar and apologised for the "mistakes" committed when their party was in power in the state.

The leaders had handed the apology letter to the Akal Takht jathedar at the Akal Takht secretariat at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

They had sought forgiveness for the "four mistakes" during the tenure of the former SAD between 2007 and 2017. The "mistakes" included the failure to punish those responsible for the 2015 sacrilege incidents and pardoning Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2007 blasphemy case, as reported by PTI.

They had also held SAD chief Badal, who was the deputy chief minister at that time, responsible for the "mistakes."

Among the prominent leaders who raised a banner of revolt against Badal are former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, former MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur, all of whom presented themselves before the Akal Takht jathedar.

Their letter had referred to the 2015 sacrilege incidents, saying the then Akali government could not ensure punishment to the guilty in these cases.

The letter also mentioned the 2007 blasphemy case, which was registered against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly imitating the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, at Salabatpura in 2007.

According to the letter, SAD chief Badal allegedly used his influence to ensure that the Dera chief was pardoned in the blasphemy case. The rebel leaders had also alleged in their letter that the SGPC had spent nearly Rs 90 lakh on advertisements in newspapers to justify the decision to pardon the Dera chief.