Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday made a noteworthy appearance at the Sikhs’ highest temporal seat — Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar, delivering a detailed written explanation in response to a series of serious allegations made by a faction of rebel leaders within his party. Sukhbir’s visit comes amid heightened scrutiny and internal dissent, marking a significant chapter in the ongoing turmoil within the SAD.
Sukhbir arrived at the Golden Temple complex at around 1:20 pm, accompanied by senior party leaders Daljit Singh Cheema, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, and Harcharan Bains. Prior to presenting himself at the Akal Takht, he visited the Golden Temple to offer prayers and partake in the customary offering of karah prashad. This was followed by his formal appearance before Akal Takht’s head priest Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh.
The Akal Takht, the supreme temporal seat of Sikhism, had issued summons to Sukhbir on July 15, demanding that he address allegations made by a group of rebel SAD leaders. These leaders had accused Sukhbir of failing to uphold and represent the core sentiments and values of the Sikh community. The rebellion within the party, led by prominent leaders such as Prem Singh Chandumajra, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and other discontented leaders, had already escalated tensions, leading to a formal apology and accusations being presented to the Akal Takht earlier this month.
During his visit, Sukhbir submitted his written explanation in a sealed envelope to Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. The meeting, which lasted around 20 minutes, was held in the presence of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami, who also provided clarification on behalf of the SGPC.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Sukhbir chose not to address the media or make any public statements, opting instead to leave quietly after the submission.
In his address to the media, Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh confirmed that Sukhbir’s explanation would be reviewed by the Panj Singh Sahibans — a council of five high-ranking Sikh priests. This council is tasked with evaluating the explanations and making a determination on the next steps. The Jathedar emphasized that this process is integral to maintaining transparency and accountability within Sikh institutions.
The backdrop to this high-profile appearance involved a series of allegations from the rebel faction, who, on July 1, had presented an apology letter detailing grievances against Sukhbir’s tenure as SAD president and Deputy Chief Minister. Their letter cited several contentious issues, including the mishandling of the 2015 sacrilege incidents, the controversial pardon of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and allegations of financial mismanagement. The letter also pointed to what the rebels described as misuse of SGPC funds for advertising campaigns aimed at justifying these decisions.
The sacrilege incidents of 2015, which involved the desecration of Sikh religious texts, and the decision to pardon Ram Rahim Singh, who had been implicated in blasphemous acts, were particularly contentious. The rebels accused Sukhbir of using his influence to secure the pardon for Ram Rahim Singh for political gains, despite widespread opposition from the Sikh community. They also criticized the SAD government’s failure to take action against those responsible for the sacrilege and the subsequent police firings at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan.
In response to these serious allegations, the Akal Takht had directed both Sukhbir and the SGPC to provide clarifications. The SGPC's response also addressed concerns about alleged expenditures on advertisements aimed at defending controversial decisions made during Sukhbir’s tenure.
Notably, just a day before his scheduled appearance, Sukhbir had dissolved the party’s core committee including key members of the rebel faction — a move seen by many as an attempt to restructure and possibly purge dissent within the party ranks.
As the Sikh community and political observers await the outcome of the Singh Sahibs’ meeting, the future direction of the SAD remains uncertain. The party, already reeling from recent electoral defeats and internal discord, now stands at a critical juncture, with its leadership under intense scrutiny and its unity in jeopardy.
