Bikram Majithia Opposes SGPC Move, Accused of Backstabbing Sukhbir; Bhundar Retracts Statement
"The latest move of the SGPC executive committee to remove the Akal Takht Jathedar has pained the sentiments of Sikh community immensely.
Majithia Opposes SGPC Move, Accused of Backstabbing Sukhbir; Bhundar Retracts Statement latest news: The crisis in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) intensified on Saturday as senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia and others openly revolted against the ouster of Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
Majithia, brother-in-law of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal, and other leaders such as Sharanjit Singh Dhillon and Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal spoke out against the SGPC's move.
In a joint release, Majithia and his supporters said, "The latest move of the SGPC executive committee to remove the Akal Takht Jathedar has pained the sentiments of the Sikh community immensely.
We disagree with this action. It is the responsibility of all of us to restore the dignity of the Akal Takht Sahib."
The outburst of Majithia and a handful of others takes on importance in the wake of rebel party chiefs alleging that the SGPC was involved in toppling the jathedars at the behest of a section of SAD leadership, spearheaded by Sukhbir.
The statement also added, "Whether it is 'sudhar lehar (rebel leaders)' or some 'panthic' individuals, we all have been shying away from these things. Because of recent events, the anti-Panthic forces have become strong and SAD has received a big setback, which needs to be reflected upon."
SAD hit back hard, and through a statement put out in the name of working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar, the party alleged that Majithia "has stabbed the party in the back." Bhundar subsequently took back some parts of his statement, saying that they were put out without his approval.
"I never said anything against Majithia that he backstabbed the party. I am surprised that the words are mentioned in my statement. The issue of removing jathedars is a decision made by SGPC. SAD is committed to every instruction issued by Akal Takht," he said. But the SAD communication department remained firm with the statement and uploaded it on the official social media accounts of the party.
The statement withdrawn by Bhundar asserted, "Bikram has unjustly questioned the SGPC's decision, in which his great-grandfather, the renowned Sundar Singh Majithia, was the first president. The executive committee of the SGPC took the decision regarding the jathedar Sahibans after prolonged discussions."
It also added that Majithia is well aware of who is behind the unrest Sikh politics and the SAD have been experiencing. "Sukhbir Singh Badal stood by Majithia in bad times, but today, in bad times for the Akali Dal and Sukhbir, he has stabbed him in the back," the statement added. Bhundar asked Majithia to refrain from becoming a part of the opposition's conspiracy.
"Each worker and leader in the party is entitled to give their opinion. I never thought that Majithia would go against the principles of the party like this," he added.
SAD chief Manpreet Ayali, ex-SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, and Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra, Surjit Singh Rakhra, and others have already condemned the SGPC decision. Ayali described the decision as "very unfortunate and painful."
"Every Sikh is pained … To regain the prestige of Sikh institutions, the whole Sikh community has to come together," Ayali wrote on Facebook.
The latest moves, including ousting of the jathedars, have been seen mostly as the consequences of continuing political and religious clashes in the SGPC. "War of supremacy" picked steam following Akal Takht's December 2 edict in which Sukhbir was directed to step down as SAD president for having committed moral collapse as a leader.
Even this did not stop the Sukhbir faction, which went ahead with its own membership campaign in violation of the directive of the Sikh clergy, creating more strife. In its December 2 edict, the Takht had also asked the party to be reorganized and the "Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum" (pride of the Sikh community) title awarded to party patriarch and five-time Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal.
Other party leaders too have resigned over the matter. SAD (Badal) Haryana unit headed by its president Sharanjit Singh Sahota has resigned, and Sarabjot Singh Sabi too has resigned as party general secretary. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Congress leaders too have condemned the SAD.
In the meantime, Bibi Jagir Kaur stated that in case Bhundar disagrees with the statement given on his behalf, it only indicates that some other leaders are taking the decision. "Some leaders are fooling Sukhbir, the crisis within the party has grown deeper as a result. The party can redeem itself by kneeling and accepting Akal Takht's decision," Kaur explained.
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