Several Sikh bodies that had been opposing Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj’s appointment as the officiating Jathedar (leader) of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) tied a ceremonial turban to him at a special program on 26 Oct. Through this gesture, they gave their assent to Giani Gargajj as the AT Jathedar. The event was organized at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur Sahib by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC)—the management body that assumes powers to appoint and remove heads of the Panjab-based Takhts (Thrones). The event coincided with the beginning of a month-long series of events being held by the state government and the SGPC to commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegbahadar. This comes days after Gaini Gargajj delivered an uninterrupted address from AT's rostrum on Bandi Chhor Diwas (Free Prisoner's Day). On 6 Jun, ‘Operation Blue Star’ anniversary, Nihang (traditional Sikh warrior) groups and several other Sikh organizations had forced Gargajj to refrain from delivering the annual address to the Sikhs. In March 2025, Giani Gargajj was hurriedly appointed AT Jathedar in the middle of the night to avoid clashes with Nihang groups and Damdami Taksal (Sikh seminary) which opposed his appointment. However, even though opposing Sikh groups now accept Giani Gargajj as AT Jathedar, the core issues of sacking of former Jathedars who had pronounced the tankhah (salary, implying punishment) on Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders in Dec 2024 and the selection of Giani Gargajj as AT Jathedar remain. Giani Gargajj is widely seen as Badal’s appointee through the SGPC which the recent ceremony does not alter. Instead, it ratifies the appointment. Meanwhile, on 25 Oct, the general house of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) revoked the membership of three past SAD presidents—Paramjit Singh Sarna, Harvinder Singh Sarna, and Manjit Singh GK. The revocation was over charges of misappropriation of Gurdwara funds and breach of trust. According to DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka, who is from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the decision was taken after consideration of long-pending complaints and in accordance with the directions received from the director Gurdwara Elections and Delhi's BJP government (earlier coverage).
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