Chasm Among Sikh Institutions Widens

On 19 Feb, former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Kirpal Singh Badungar resigned from the Akal Takht (Eternal Throne, AT) appointed seven-member committee to oversee the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) membership and the election of its office-bearers. Badungar’s resignation came a day after Harjinder Singh Dhami quit as the committee chairperson and as SGPC President and just before the committee was to meet. While the members of the committee met, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a committee member, said, 'We were asked to supervise the SAD membership drive and elections, but the SAD leadership didn’t co-operate.' These developments have further deepened the confrontation between the SAD and the AT over the conduct of the membership drive and the subsequent elections. Senior SAD leaders, led by Diljit Singh Cheema, have attempted to persuade Dhami to withdraw his resignation. SGPC too has refused to accept Dhami's resignation and is urging him to reconsider his decision. However, Dhami seems adamant and has not budged from his position. Meanwhile, on the sacking of Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar (leader) Giani Harpreet Singh, the SGPC executive committee asserted that it holds the power to appoint and remove Jathedars of the five Takhts (Sikh thrones of sovereignty). On 22 Feb, AT Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said, 'Sikhs around the world turn to the Akal Takht for spiritual and religious guidance. However, yesterday I learned that the Akal Takht's directives are confined to its four walls and do not extend beyond.' Such a statement from the AT Jathedar betrays a sense of helplessness at how matters have transpired since the 2 Dec 2024 events in which the AT had told SAD they have ‘lost the moral right to lead’ and called for the party’s reorganization.