Kapurthala (Gurpreet Singh): Bibi Jagir Kaur has rejoined the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), ending another period away from the party led by Sukhbir Singh Badal. She returned to the organisation at a public gathering in Begowal, in Punjab’s Kapurthala district, on Sunday.
Sukhbir Badal and several party leaders were present when the former SGPC president was welcomed back into the Akali Dal. Her return is being viewed as an important political development for the party in the Doaba region, where she has a strong association with the Bholath constituency.
The event also provided a platform for Badal to address party workers and target the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over issues including drug trafficking and law and order.
From Mathematics Teacher To Senior Akali Leader
Jagir Kaur began her political journey after joining the Shiromani Akali Dal in 1995. Before entering politics, she worked as a mathematics teacher.
She won the Bholath Assembly seat in the 1997 Punjab elections and later became a minister in the government headed by Parkash Singh Badal.
Her political career also included a prominent role in Sikh religious administration. In 1999, she became the first woman to head the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). She was elected to the post for a fourth time in November 2020 and also served as the president of the Akali Dal’s women’s wing.
Jagir Kaur’s relationship with the party leadership has seen periods of disagreement and separation. Her latest return brings her back into the SAD fold under Sukhbir Badal’s leadership.
Sukhbir Badal Welcomes Her Return, Targets AAP
Addressing the gathering, Sukhbir Badal said Jagir Kaur’s return would strengthen the Akali Dal, particularly across the Doaba belt. He said differences had led to their separation but both sides had now come together with the aim of strengthening the organisation.
Badal also urged other leaders who had left the party to return, saying the Akali Dal needed to unite to address the challenges facing Punjab.
He accused the AAP government of allowing the drug problem to worsen in the state. Badal claimed that drugs had reached homes across Punjab and alleged that people arrested by authorities in connection with the drug trade were later released following intervention by AAP leaders.
He also criticised Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that they did not share an emotional connection with Punjab and had come to the state for political gains.
These remarks were part of Badal’s political address at the event.
Parkash Singh Badal’s Legacy Recalled
Sukhbir Badal also spoke about the contribution of his father, former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, to the state and the Sikh Panth.
He said his father had spent nearly 70 years serving Punjab and had travelled extensively across its villages and towns. According to Sukhbir, the former chief minister remained connected with the concerns of farmers, economically weaker sections and business owners.
He further said people belonging to different religious communities had stood by the Badal family over the years.
Jagir Kaur’s return adds another senior face to the SAD’s organisational setup as Punjab’s political parties prepare for the next Assembly election cycle.
