15 october 2024 : Akal Takht has “ordered the expulsion” of Virsa Singh Valtoha from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for allegedly damaging the credibility of the takht jathedars.
Valtoha was summoned by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh for purportedly engaging in character assassination of the jathedars on social media while allegedly under the influence of the BJP-led Central government and the RSS.
After failing to substantiate his claims with “concrete evidence” in front of the assembled Five High Priests, Giani Raghbir Singh instructed SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar to expel Valtoha from the party within 24 hours, revoke his primary membership for the next 10 years, and bar him from participating in any party activities during that period. The closed-door meeting between the Five High Priests and Valtoha lasted over two hours and was recorded.
Giani Raghbir Singh later revealed that Valtoha had specifically targeted him and Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, accusing Giani Harpreet Singh of conspiring at the behest of the BJP-RSS to have Sukhbir Badal removed from the SAD presidency, but he could not provide substantial proof.
Giani Raghbir Singh also disclosed that Valtoha had “threatened” him regarding any decisive action against “tankhaiya” Sukhbir Singh Badal, and had secretly recorded their conversation, which he deemed morally, ethically, and legally wrong.
“While I was unwell last week, Valtoha visited me under the pretext of checking on my health. After a casual exchange, he threatened that he would oppose any verdict against Sukhbir Singh Badal. It was unethical and a betrayal for him to record our conversation without my consent,” he stated.
Giani Raghbir Singh mentioned that Valtoha had submitted a written clarification, but his claims were dismissed as frivolous and unfounded. He reiterated that the SAD working president has been ordered to terminate Valtoha’s primary membership and prohibit him from participating in any party activities for the next 10 years. Failure to comply would lead to further severe consequences.
On August 30, Akal Takht had declared Sukhbir Singh Badal “tankhaiya” (guilty of religious misconduct) for making controversial decisions during his tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab from 2007-2017, but the punishment was not specified. Valtoha had questioned the delay in pronouncing the ‘tankhah’ (religious punishment) for Sukhbir on his social media, claiming he received “shocking feedback” that the jathedars, allegedly influenced by the BJP-RSS, intended to remove Sukhbir as SAD president.
