Sukhbir Badal’s resignation from presidency could be first step in Akali Dal’s revival

 

Sukhbir Badal’s resignation from presidency could be first step in Akali Dal’s revival

Ground Zero

Jagtar Singh

Chandigarh, November 16: It is late by seven years.

Had Sukhbir Singh Badal resigned in 2017 from the presidency of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the second oldest political party in the country, correctives might have been applied at the time when the party’s route had been triggered. This party that had all along dictated political discourse of this Sikh dominated state was pushed down to the third position in 2017 Assembly elections replaced by the rookie Aam Aadmi Party as the main opposition.

This fall was to continue unabated with the party strength having been reduced to just three MLAs in 2022 Assembly elections and 10 of its 13 candidates lost their security deposits in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Today’s resignation is culmination of developments sparked with the complaint submitted by a section of the rebel Akalis to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh a few months back in which they held Sukhbir guilty. Interestingly, a section continue to suspect the resignation as some part of the design.

Sukhbir was indited (declared Tankhaiya) by the Akal Takht, the supreme religio-political authority symbolizing transcendental Sikh sovereignty, recently on the basis of that complaint. Further action as sequel to this indictment is awaited.

Now he would present himself as an ordinary Sikh when summoned at Akal Takht.

It is pertinent to mention that in his capacity as the Akali Dal president, Sukhbir had the power to influence decision making at the level of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee that is the appointing authority for the Takht Jathedars.

One of the important dimensions of this resignation is that the monopoly of the Badal family over the Sikh institutions beginning with 1996 has now ended. Parkash Singh Badal had took over as the president of the unified Shiromani Akali Dal that year and he never looked back. He passed on the baton of party presidency to his son in 2008.

It may be mentioned here that a committee headed by Iqbal Singh Jhoonda had been constituted by the party president after the 2022 elections that had wider consultations with the party rank and file. Though its final rrecommendations were never made public, reports appearing in the media stated that the committee had recommended change in party leadership were never denied.

Now when the entire issue is with the highest Sikh clergy, the Akal Takht should direct the party to submit its report to be released in public.

It may be mentioned here that the Akali Dal was constituted at Akal Takht in 1920 and this institution has been making its intervention in party affairs from time to time and the present situation as such is not unprecedented.

This resignation is the first step in chacking continuing downfall. This resignation could have been sought by the Akal Takht Jathedar too going by the signals and that would have been humiliating for the party. Sukhbir had approached the Akal Takht three days back with the plea to expedite the case.

Significantly, the complaint to Akal Takht Jathedar by the rebel Akalis involves the role of Parkash Singh Badal too as he was the chief minister.  One of the main issues is exoneration of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim by Akal Takht for which the high priests had been summoned to the official residence of the chief minister in 2015. This amounted to brazen violation of Rehat Maryada (religious code of conduct) by Parkash Singh Badal. Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Gurmukh Singh who too was part of that meeting subsequent came out on record and disclosed the meeting.

Parkash Singh Badal was bestowed the highest honour of Faqr-e-Qaum Panth Rattan by Akal Takht earlier.

Now that Sukhbir has submitted his resignation, it is desirable that the Panth should be apprised of as to what had happened in 2015 leading to this exoneration as the same had to be withdrawn amidst anger from the Sikhs at large. Then Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh faced unprecedented boycott. He needs to be questioned at Akal Takht on his role.

This process must be taken to the logical conclusion.

The term of the present general house is ending next month.

As a first step towards revival of Akali Dal, the Akali Takht could set up a 5-member panel to oversee new recruitment to constitute the new general house and run the day-to-day party affairs.

It would take long to undo the damage done to the party.