Chandigarh, January 9, 2025 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): The Shiromani Akali Dal has called a meeting of its working committee on Friday to decide on the resignation of Sukhbir Singh Badal as its chief and initiate the process to reorganise the party.
SAD spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema said the meeting has been scheduled for January 10 at 3 pm at the party’s Chandigarh office.
The decision came hours after a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, who had on Monday asked the party to immediately implement the edict pronounced by five high Sikh priests on December 2.
The Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs — had held Badal and several other SAD leaders guilty of religious misconduct over issues concerning the community during the party’s rule from 2007-17.
The later part of the SAD regime, which ruled in alliance with the BJP, was marked by incidents of the desecration of religious texts and subsequent police firing on protesters that resulted in the death of two persons in 2015.
Badal was also awarded a 10-day religious punishment for the mistakes, for which he had submitted an unconditional apology through a letter to the Akal Takht.
He, however, on Monday claimed innocence in desecration cases, saying their rivals levelled “false allegations” against him.
He had resigned from the party chief’s post on November 16, days before the Akal Takht edict ordered the SAD to hold its working committee’s meeting within three days of the passing of the decree to accept Badal’s resignation. The Akal Takht had also called for the reorganisation of the party through a six-month membership drive. A seven-member panel, chaired by SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, was constituted for the purpose.
However, Dhami is yet to call a meeting of the panel, which also includes rebel party leaders who had sought the restructuring of the SAD.
The party has so far maintained that it is registered as a secular party and it cannot take directions from a religious chief as it may lead to its de-recognition.
Told Jathedar about edict’s legal implications: Cheema
SAD spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema, who was part of the delegation that met the Akal Takht Jathedar, said they apprised him of the legal and constitutional factors, and Election Commission guidelines that prevented the implementation of Akal Takht’s decree.
“We explained the entire issue to the Jathedar in detail. All constitutional amendments, Supreme Court directives and Election Commission guidelines were submitted to him,” he said.
Taking a dig at the rebel Akali leaders, Cheema said they “misguided people” by telling them that there were no hurdles in implementing the directives.
Summary: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) schedules a Jan 10 meeting to deliberate on party chief Sukhbir Badal’s resignation and future leadership.