Will the initiative of Akal Takht Sahib lead to the creation of a new Akali Dal?
The decision of Sri Akal Takht Sahib has paved the way for the Badal family to reduce its dominance over the Akali Dal and for the unity of the Panthic and Akali communities. Due to the decision of the Singh Sahibs, there will be new recruitment, from which there is a possibility of new leadership emerging.
The five Singh Sahibs have ordered the Akali leaders who are divided into factions to close their separate chulas, calling them tainted and rebels, which will help bring about unity in the Akali Dal. As per the decision taken by the five Singh Sahibs, Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has formed a committee under the leadership of Shiromani Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami to form new memberships of the Akali Dal and to form delegates, in which Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri and Satwant Kaur, daughter of Bhai Beant Singh Sardar Kirpal Singh Badungar, have been included.
It is worth mentioning here that after the incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the pardon of the Dera chief, the Akali Dal went to the margins. In the by-election held in Sangrur constituency in 2022, Simranjit Singh Mann, considered a Khalistan supporter, won the election. Similarly, in the Lok Sabha elections, the hard-line Amritpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh were elected as MPs from Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot constituencies. This election raised more questions about the future of the Akali Dal. It was clear from this that the Sikh community was not satisfied with the Badal Dal.
The Singh Sahibs have given a big religious and political shock to the Badal family by withdrawing the Fakhar-e-Qaum award from the late Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. This decision has given satisfaction to the Sikh community. Apart from this, the Akali Dal Working Committee has been ordered to accept the resignation of Sukhbir Badal and inform the Akal Takht Sahib within three days, this is also a big political shock for the Badal family. Although Sukhbir Badal had resigned, the Working Committee and the Core Committee were not in a mood to accept the resignation. Now Akali Dal Acting President Balwinder Singh Bhunder said that a meeting will be called soon and Sukhbir Singh Badal’s resignation will be withdrawn.
Now, as per the decision of the Singh Sahibans, a new election of the Akali Dal will be held within six months after the new membership and delegates are formed. Whether the reins of the Akali Dal will fall into the hands of a leader during the new election is in the future, but the foundation of unity has been laid in the Akali Dal. Will the Sikh and Punjab voters forgive the leadership of the Akali Dal and follow the Akali Dal in the future? This is a new question. But the Singh Sahibans should include representatives of the Bhai Amrit Pal Singh faction, Akhand Kirtani Jatha, Sikh Missionary College, Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi faction in the Akali Dal so that the Akali Dal can become strong again. The problems of Punjab and the Panth are because the Akali Dal is weak. Whenever there is an attack on regional issues or the rights of the state, the Akali Dal has been ready for struggle. Even in opposing the Emergency, the Akali Dal played an important role. But gradually the Akali Dal rose from the struggles and became a party that revolves around power. This hunger for power has caused great damage to the Akali Dal. Morcha politics was the strength of the Akali Dal, which the Akali Dal has forgotten. Power comes from the morchas, struggles, power in itself is nothing. The Akali Dal will have to understand this. To return to power, the Akali Dal will have to come back to its ideology. If the Akali Dal is to be saved, the party will have to make a change in leadership and align the party with Panthic ideology, state autonomy and the federal structure.
