Badal Returns as SAD President

On 12 Apr, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) re-elected Sukhbir Singh Badal as its president. The election has, for now, ended the efforts to bring in an effective change in the SAD organization and leadership, the climax of which was Badal being declared guilty of religious misconduct and the historic tankhah (punishment) by the Akal Takht (Eternal Throne, AT) to many SAD leaders including Badal on 2 Dec 2024. The sacking of the Jathedars (leaders) of the three Takhts (thrones) after that, the resignation and retraction by the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, point at how entrenched the Badals are in the Sikh and Akali politics. On 13 Apr, Vaisakhi (harvest festival) and Khalsa Sajna Diwas (inauguration of the Khalsa), Badal addressed his supporters at Takht Damadama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo. Badal insisted SAD is the ‘true inheritor’ of Panjab. He said when his party was in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (1996-2020), they had drawn a line which forbade BJP from interfering in the Sikh religion. Since SAD quit the alliance, BJP has been interfering in Takht Huzur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra and Takht Patna Sahib in Patna, Bihar and alluded to AT holding him guilty and punishments given to his party members was a conspiracy by the BJP. However, he did not explain his involvement in the pardon to Chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, the sacrileges, the shootings at Bargari, the appointment of Sumedh Singh Saini as former police chief and his other lapses. Badal mentioned former SAD president and five-time Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s arrests and achievements, and said being his son and the president of SAD, he will fulfil all of his father’s promises. He vowed again to make Panjab the nation’s top state, reconnect with disillusioned SAD workers, and prioritize development, social welfare, and take strict measures against gangsters and drug smugglers (earlier coverage).

Across Panjab and various global locations, the Sikh community celebrated Vaisakhi (harvest festival) and Khalsa Sajna Diwas (inauguration of the Khalsa) with large gatherings and interfaith goodwill. Thousands of Sikhs converged at Takht (Throne) Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo, Bathinda to mark the occasion. In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney and his wife Diana visited Gurdwara Sahib Ottawa and performed voluntary service in the Langar (community kitchen) Hall, and conveyed their greetings to Sikhs. However, the Canadian PM was criticised for pandering to the Sikhs and not publicly recognising Palm Sunday which fell on the same day. The British PM Keir Starmer also posted a heartfelt message. In London, hundreds of thousands of people participated in festivities, with an event in east London featuring music, food, and cultural exhibits. Glasgow also saw more than 700 people take part in a vibrant procession that toured the city’s Southside, West End. Celebrations in Southall were briefly marred by a fire outbreak at a Nagar Kirtan, injuring at least four volunteers. Despite these challenges, the ethos of Seva (selfless service) and solidarity remains prominent worldwide, with many continuing to extend assistance and share goodwill during Vaisakhi. However, it must be noted that in all these celebrations the Sikhs are missing the recognition of the sovereignty of the Khalsa Panth (Sikh Collective) as the Guru. Meanwhile, for the first time in over half a century, Pakistan issued over 6.5K visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims travelling between 10-19 Apr to observe Vaisakhi at revered sites such as Gurdwaras Panja, Nankana, and Kartarpur Sahibs. The Nankana Sahib district administration declared a five-day holiday in all its educational institutions to facilitate the accommodation of all the pilgrims. The festival is being celebrated as a symbol of spiritual renewal and communal unity. Adding to the spirit of religious exchange, India granted visas to 188 Pakistani pilgrims for the Urs (death anniversary) of Hazrat Amir Khusro in New Delhi, displaying a parallel effort at fostering cross-border faith-based journeys.

In Panjab, controversies have erupted on multiple fronts, intensifying scrutiny of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. A plaque commemorating restroom repairs under the Sikhya Kranti scheme led social media users to brand Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann the Toilet King ofPunjab, highlighting alleged extravagance in celebrating minor works. Meanwhile, a violent confrontation over illegal mining in Dera Bassi in Shaibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district left at least six injured, extending into the Civil Hospital and prompting doctors to go on strike. Additionally, AAP Members of the Legislative Assembly face rising public discontent: a farmer in Faridkot openly challenged Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan’s expertise, and Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian’s interaction with protesters ended in the detention of a Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) (Sidhupur) member. On 15 Apr, BKU Azad members—part of Kisan Mukti Morcha—raised slogans against CM Mann when he came to Chaajli village in Sangrur, his home turf. Common people have barred AAP members from entering their villages. On 6 Apr, Bathinda Police arrested farm activist and BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) general secretary Harinder Kaur Bindu who was on location to support protesting teachers and parents. Bindu is the daughter of a 1991 Sewewala massacre victim Megh Raj Bhagtuana. Upon release from jail, Bindu accused police of torture and is receiving medical treatment. In Rampura, thousands gathered on 12 Apr to demand the release of jailed teachers and supporters, alleging they were beaten while highlighting corruption in Adarsh (Ideal) School’s finances. Accusers claim the AAP administration forcibly privatizes public services like education and healthcare. In a separate development, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Praveen Kumar Sinha has been appointed head of Panjab Police Intelligence, replacing ADGP RK Jaiswal without explanation. Panjab Bharatiya Janata Party chief Sunil Jakhar has accused the government of misusing intelligence resources for political espionage, citing his remarks in the Assembly as evidence that he monitors opponents through official channels (earlier coverage).

On 8 Apr, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) hacked the Panjab police’s armed wing website, displaying a Liberate Punjab from Indian Occupation poster. A week later the website is still under maintenance. After the defacing of the casing of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar statue at Nangal village near Phillaur on 31 Mar, SFJ escalated tensions by threatening grenade attacks if Panjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh commemorated Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on 14 Apr. SFJ also released a video showing vandalism at an Ambedkar Housing Society in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar. Though the police found no physical evidence of damage, calling the video a provocation designed to disrupt communal harmony. However, from the propaganda it is clear that SFJ is trying to create differences between Sikhs and the Dalit (Scheduled Caste) community who highly revere Ambedkar. The Panch Pardhani Panthak Jatha stressed that Dr Ambedkar’s legacy deserves respect and reaffirmed the Khalistan movement’s objective of forging a just society is consistent with Sikh tenets. Law enforcement agencies intensified vigilance in Mohali, Chandigarh, and beyond, safeguarding Ambedkar statues. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Fauja Singh Sarari, Ranbir Singh Bhullar, Rajnish Kumar Dahiya, and Naresh Kataria lambasted SFJ legal counsel and Khalistan advocate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun for stirring conflict and profiteering from hatred, urging Sikh organizations to excommunicate Pannun from the Panth (Sikh Collective). It is ironic that given the malgovernance of Panjab, AAP leaders once again pledged to celebrate Ambedkar’s birth anniversary across Panjab, emphasizing interfaith unity. It must be noted that despite SFJ’s advocacy on Sikh matters, the group remained silent on the recent deportation of Sikhs from the US via military aircraft—the migrants were handcuffed and their turbans removed. This shows SFJ’s selective activism and focus on high-profile controversies, and how the group ignores issues where powers other than India are involved (earlier coverage).

On 29 Mar, a special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar sentenced four ex-Panjab police officers in the 2007 Moga sex scandal, handing rigorous prison terms and fines for corruption and extortion. Former Moga Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Devinder Singh Garcha and the then Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Paramdip Singh Sandhu were each handed five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined USD 2.3K after being convicted under sections 13(1) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Meanwhile, on 9 Apr, in Kot Mohammad Khan village, Tarn Taran district, a Sub-Inspector (SI) Charanjit Singh was fatally shot during a clash between two groups. SI Charanjit was shot with a service pistol snatched from the police by Rajandeep Singh on orders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch (village head) Kuldeep Singh. In Jalandhar, authorities arrested a youth identified as the primary suspect in the grenade attack on Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manoranjan Kalia’s residence; investigations revealed links to fugitive gangster Zeeshan Akhtar, believed to operate from abroad. Meanwhile, Panjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa recently said in a television interview, ‘50 bombs/hand grenades have been smuggled into Panjab, with 18 already used in terror activities.’ Even though the interview has not been aired, on the basis of the promotional videos of the interview, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann questioned Bajwa’s sources and accused him of fomenting panic. Bajwa insists his claims came from credible intelligence channels but has been charged by the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar police for ‘false and misleading information’ that could compromise national security and unity. Bajwa had recently criticized the AAP administration’s ‘War on Drugs’, condemning the reported use of schoolchildren to detect drug-related activity in Faridkot as a ‘dangerous gimmick.’ He accused CM Mann of prioritizing publicity stunts over genuine solutions, warning that Panjab’s citizens would not be deceived by symbolic gestures (earlier coverage).

A new study from Punjab Agricultural University warns that only 30% of Panjab’s land is truly suited for intensive rice cultivation. Yet, over 64% of the state’s geographical area remains under the crop, straining water and soil. The study, Agro-Eco-Resource Zonation for Sustainable Agriculture using Geographic Information Systems and Analytical Hierarchy Process Techniques in Indian Punjab, has been published in the Theoretical and Applied Climatology journal. Meanwhile, water quality tests in Muktsar found 33 out of 51 samples unfit for consumption, spotlighting failing Reverse Osmosis plants and eroding infrastructure. Residents in Abohar, Fazilka, and Muktsar also report foul-smelling canal water, fearing industrial waste may be to blame. In one breach, the Sukhchain Minor Canal flooded wheat fields while the crop was ripe for harvest. The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) 26 Mar order says only USD 84 million has been spent on liquid and solid waste management out of USD 241M directed to be ring-fenced for the purpose. Gaps in the disposal of legacy waste and incomplete remediation in urban local bodies persist, with the NGT demanding a fresh report detailing each municipality’s shortfalls. In another pivotal debate, spring maize sowing has surged from 30K hectares a decade ago to 180–190K hectares now, requiring up to 19 irrigations, deepening concerns about aquifer depletion. The state Agriculture Department, alarmed by the plunging water table, recently banned the long-duration Pusa-44 paddy variety to discourage its water-guzzling tendencies, instead promoting shorter-duration seeds like PR 126. As Panjab seeks to control overexploitation of groundwater, citing unspent money and questioning water-sharing decisions, it has confronted the Bhakra Beas Management Board refusing further funds until transparency is ensured. Experts believe immediate steps—balancing crop diversification, upgrading water infrastructure, and enforcing accountability—are essential to avert a deeper agricultural and ecological catastrophe (earlier coverage).

The Panjab Cabinet approved a significant 50% reduction in the income criteria for Dalit (Scheduled Caste) advocates, allowing more SC and Scheduled Tribe (ST) lawyers to compete for reserved positions in the Advocate General’s office. This was in response to a move introduced by the Aam Aadmi Party government in 2023 to fill 25% of the reserved posts and facilitate appointments to High Court benches. Finance Minister Harpal Cheema noted that of the 58 SC/ST posts available, 15 had remained vacant due to stringent income standards. In tandem, the Cabinet increased the retirement age for medical teaching faculty from 62 to 65 years and raised specialist doctors’ retirement from 58 to 65 years with provisions for contractual re-employment. The Cabinet also passed orders to reorganize the Rural Development Department. Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) directed Deputy Commissioners (DC) in Panjab to ensure prompt, encumbrance-free handover of land to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for highway projects spanning 1288.31 km, with possession still pending for between 88.39 and 136.67 km. Following detailed timelines from the 4 Apr hearing, PHHC has set a 5 May deadline for DCs and Senior Superintendents of Police across 11 districts. The court emphasised that pending arbitration cases are not valid grounds for delaying or halting land possession by NHAI and if landowners obstruct, the authorities must utilise all available measures to remove obstacles. On 9 Apr, the Union Cabinet approved a 19.2-km Zirakpur Bypass in Panjab and Haryana, valued at USD 217.8 M, to ease congestion in major areas and improve regional connectivity. This cost was shared in an official statement, which noted that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, authorized the project on the Hybrid Annuity Mode. This decision follows widespread calls for improved infrastructure to handle escalating traffic volumes in Panjab and Haryana, where rapid urbanization has strained current roads (earlier coverage).

Local and national Sikh organizations in Canada are demanding the removal of Saskatchewan Member of the Legislative Assembly Racquel Hilbert, from the Saskatchewan Party, after she labelled federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh ‘a terrorist’ during a 25 Mar debate on the provincial budget. Critics called her remark hate speech that inflicts deep hurt on the community, especially during Sikh Heritage Month. Hilbert’s written apology—deemed insufficient by many—has prompted the Sikh Society of Saskatchewan and the World Sikh Organization of Canada to seek her formal censure and mandatory anti-racism training for her party members. In parallel, a multi-part series by Prabhjot Paul Singh titled East Indians in Canada has highlighted the significant contributions of Panjabi pioneers. The series opens by paying homage to Giani Naranjan Singh Grewall, Canada’s first East Indian elected official, who migrated from Dhudike village in 1925. He established himself as a union leader in Mission, British Columbia, and set the stage for subsequent political activism. It recounts how trailblazing women politicians like Ruby Kaur Dhalla and Neena (Narinder) Kaur Grewal broke barriers on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill. Another part highlights a landmark victory in 1993 when a turbaned Sikh Gurbax Singh Malhi was elected to the House of Commons for the first time, establishing the turban as a respected emblem in Canadian parliamentary culture. The narrative turns to Nagar Kirtan processions that consolidated the political will of East Indians facing early migrant hardships and blatant discrimination, including signboards that read Dogs and Indians are not welcome, ultimately fostering unity and resilience. Collectively, these stories illustrate how contemporary controversies intertwine with a rich legacy of perseverance and political contribution, reaffirming the robust and evolving role of the Sikh and broader East Indian communities in shaping Canada’s multicultural identity.

In Canada, Sikh Heritage Month in April is being celebrated with an array of events that honor the rich culture, history, and contributions of the Sikh community. In Saskatchewan, Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross remarked that the government values the cultural richness, hard work, and community spirit of Sikhs, while community leaders such as Sandeep Singh Sandhu from Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Regina and Calgary emphasized that the month celebrates the principles of equality, service, and compassion that have long shaped society. A WeeklyVoice statement urged Sikh Canadians to join in initiatives that highlight their enduring legacy in culture, politics, and justice. Meanwhile, a new exhibit at the Military Museums in Calgary celebrates the legacy of Sikh soldiers in the Canadian military. University of Calgary professor Harjeet Singh Grewal explained that Canadian Sikhs have served since World War I, and the exhibition showcases personal artifacts, medals, and preserved records—including those connected to Sophia Duleep Singh, who played a significant role in caring for injured Panjabi soldiers. However, not all celebrations have gone smoothly; in Timmins, Ontario, organizers were dismayed when plans to raise a Sikh flag at City Hall were denied due to municipal regulations, forcing the ceremony to be held at the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat on Cedar Street, a change that has sparked calls for policy review from local advocates and Members of Provincial Parliament George Pirie. In Western Australia, Dongara made history by officially naming a lane Sikh Lane to recognize Sikh contributions dating back to the early twentieth century. On an international front, the US House Homeland Security Committee passed four landmark Bills against transnational repression with bipartisan support. US Representative Seth Magaziner stressed the importance of these measures to protect diaspora communities from authoritarian threats (earlier coverage).

Actor and musician Gippy Grewal's (Rupinder Singh Grewal) new movie Akaal: The Unconquered released 9 Apr. Based on the life of Sardar Akaal Singh, set in Panjab in the 1840s, the movie has sparked controversy and outrage among the members of the Sikh community. Sikh leader Baba Bakshish Singh has condemned the film for allegedly disrespecting Sikh values and hurting religious sentiments. He claims the movie depicts Sikh characters indulging in inappropriate and disrespectful actions like 'consuming alcohol, tobacco', and appearing with their hair cut. Singh stated that if the film intends to reflect the legacy of historical Sikh warriors like Hari Singh Nalwa or Jassa Singh Ahluwalia, then the responsibility falls on the filmmakers and actors to portray these figures with dignity, historical accuracy, and respect. Members of Sikh groups, including Nihangs (traditional Sikh warriors), staged demonstrations, entered multiplexes and demanded the immediate suspension of the film’s screening. Led by Pradeep Singh Ayali, president of Sikh Youth Power, the demonstrators raised slogans. Ayali said, 'Grewal has previously appeared in movies where he danced with women and portrayed characters far removed from Sikh ideals. Now, he is shown wearing Nihang attire, which is against the sanctity of our faith.' Similar demonstrations took place in other cities in Panjab. The accusation of misrepresentation of historical figures is ironic for Grewal. In September 2024, while commenting on the film Emergency, Grewal had called for the inclusion of a Sikh representative in the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to ensure accurate representation of the Sikh community in films. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had also passed resolutions requesting a Sikh member on the board, but the SGPC claims their demands have fallen on ‘deaf ears’. While the CBFC is not in the control of the SGPC, it can certainly constitute its own committee that can vet films made by Sikhs so they do not run into rough weather (earlier coverage).