"The Shiromani Akali Dal's Decline: A Tale of Rebellion and Discontent

Editorial: The decline of the Shiromani Akali Dal began eight years ago during the 2017 assembly elections, but what has happened in the last few days is the peak of the decline.

The action of the Initiating Committee to prematurely dismiss the Jathedars of Sri Akal Takht and Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib and make new appointments in their place has not only increased disappointment and bitterness in the Panthic ranks, but also set those leaders on the path of rebellion whose loyalty to the Badal family seemed difficult to doubt.

Dozens of senior and junior leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, who had stood by Sukhbir Singh Badal in every crisis, have now started questioning the party's decisions and strategy.

The party's working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder has accused such leaders of violating party discipline and warned of disciplinary action. But how many leaders will the so-called leadership of the party take disciplinary action against?

The new recruitment is yet to be sealed; before that, how fast the old ones are disintegrating can be gauged from the current rebellion within the party ranks. Leaders who are in the public know the pulse of the people.

The fierce loyalists of the Badal family have been feeling the heat of the anger and disappointment that the Sikh community, especially the Panthic ranks, have been feeling since December 2 last year due to the arbitrariness of the leadership.

The removal of Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh from the posts of Jathedar of Akal Takht and Takht Keshgarh Sahib respectively without seeking any explanation and before that the removal of Giani Harpreet Singh from the Jathedarship of Takht Damdama Sahib in a character assassination were acts that were going to deeply hurt the Sikh minds.

A strong reaction was bound to arise against these. The Akali leaders found it difficult to answer the questions related to this reaction. This is the reason why when Majithia chose the path of giving voice to this anger, it did not take long for the group to become a caravan.

Majithia is not a washed-up leader. Mr. Bhunder is right in his statement that he continued to act as a ‘super CM’ during the Badals’ rule. Although the court of justice has been kind to him so far, his image in the context of the prevalence of ‘white’ in Punjab is still as tainted as before.

But if he has risen up against his brother-in-law or his advisors, it does not seem right to consider it a mere product of ‘family feud’. Politicians are wind-chilled. A clever politician learns very quickly to turn and turn according to the direction of the wind.

The principled person is very energetic, but this is only a mask. Bikram Majithia chose the right time (in his words) to ‘give voice to the concerns and worries in the minds of the people’. The continuous increase in the ranks of the ‘rebels’ due to this step confirms the fact that the Akali ranks were feeling the pinch.

Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, the newly appointed Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, has expressed his commitment to work for the good of the Panth after assuming office on Monday. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s Interim Committee has also entrusted him with the role of the acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht. Both these responsibilities are like walking on the edge of a sword; he should have guessed this fact from the fate of Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Harpreet Singh.

Even if it doesn't happen, they will soon realize how quickly those who claim to be 'devoted' to the Akal Takht and to have the Guru present at all times turn away from their own promises. As far as Sukhbir Singh Badal is concerned, he cannot be expected to show the wisdom and grace to review his own rash decisions or actions. Still, if he were to seriously count the names of those who left his side, he would realize how big a role he has played in the 'ritual of division' within the Akali Dal.