On 3 May, Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT) officiating Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj announced that the Panth (Sikh Collective) will refuse permission for Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar’s proposed movie on Sikh martyr Hari Singh Nalwa. He declared that Sikh Gurus and martyrs are sacred figures and commercial portraits violate long‑standing Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) resolutions of 1934, 1940, 2003, 2015 and 2022. Speaking at a conclave of Sikh scholars, artists and panthic organizations at AT, Gargajj urged filmmakers to focus on social themes such as Seva (selfless service) and Langar (community kitchens) instead of exploiting heroic history. He said animation and AI content threaten Sikh identity and a joint SGPC–AT committee will draft a formal film policy. Earlier the Jathedar became the first AT leader to attend a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD; Amritsar) foundation‑day Ardas (prayers) inside the Takht (throne) complex since the party split from the parent SAD in 1994. He told the gathering that all splintered Akali factions must bury differences and share AT as a common platform. His appearance drew a swift counter from Damdami Taksal, Sant Samaj and allied Nihang (traditional Sikh warriors) groups headed by Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa Dhuma, issued an ultimatum demanding the SGPC cancel the recent appointments of Gargajj and Baba Tek Singh Dhanaula as Takht Jathedars and restore their predecessors by 10 May, or face monthly five‑hundred‑strong sit‑ins outside SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s village residence starting 11 June. Meanwhile, the SGPC has extended to 20 May its call for written proposals on codifying rules for appointing or removing the AT Jathedar. Submissions received so far seek an Amritdhari candidate with at least a graduate degree or Giani certification, prefer postgraduates in Sikh studies, fix a 4‑year tenure renewable once, mandate selection by SGPC members and sitting Takht chiefs, and require a two‑thirds SGPC vote for dismissal. Akhand Kirtani Jatha’s twelve‑page paper recommends permanent departments for research, diaspora relations, education and media under the Takht secretariat.
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