Akal Takht Archives - National Times

12 Dec

Centre Declines Demand to Rename ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, BJP Backs Decision

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, PunjabAkal Takht, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, SGPC, Sikh organisations, Veer Bal Diwas

Chandigarh, December 12, 2025 — The Central Government has declined requests from several Sikh organisations and political parties to change the name of ‘Veer Bal Diwas’, reaffirming that the current title will remain unchanged. The decision follows sustained appeals from Sikh bodies urging the Centre to revise the nomenclature.BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa defended the government’s stance, asserting that the existing name suitably honours the unmatched martyrdom of the Sahibzaade. He said the terminology reflects the spirit of sacrifice associated with the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh.The move comes days after the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib wrote…

03 Dec

Akal Takht Warns Against Portrayal of Sikh Gurus’ Families, Seeks Withdrawal of Govt Order

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Fancy Dress Controversy, Jathedar Gargajj, Punjab Child Welfare Council, Sahibzadas

Sri Amritsar, December 3 — Sri Akal Takht Sahib’s acting Jathedar, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, has issued a sharp objection to the fancy-dress competitions announced by the Child Welfare Council, Punjab, in relation to the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas, the sons of Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He has demanded that the events be cancelled without delay, calling them disrespectful and against Sikh religious principles. The Jathedar said it was worrying that officials working under both the central and state governments continue to show a lack of awareness about Sikh sentiments and traditions, allowing such directives to be issued.The…

03 Nov

Akal Takht Jathedar Demands Renaming of Rajiv Gandhi National Law University, Calls 1984 Killings Genocide

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab1984 Sikh genocide, Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Rajiv Gandhi National Law University

Amritsar, November 3, 2025 — Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, has urged the Central Government to rename Rajiv Gandhi National Law University in Patiala, calling it an “insult to the Sikh community.” He said the former Prime Minister bore moral responsibility for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.Addressing the media after attending the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) annual general session, Jathedar Gargajj stated, “The very name of Rajiv Gandhi reminds Sikhs of one of the darkest chapters in India’s history. It is painful that an institution in Punjab…

08 Oct

Akal Takht Jathedar Orders Lifetime Ban on Gurdwara Committee After Desecration of Guru Granth Sahib Saroops in Samba

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Gurudwara Committee, Jathedar Gajraj, Lifetime Ban

Samba/Sri Amritsar, October 8: Taking a strict notice of the incident in which five sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were set on fire last night by pouring fuel by a local resident named Manjeet at Gurdwara Singh Sabha of Koulpur village in Vijaypur Tehsil of Jammu’s Samba district, the Officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, personally visited the Gurdwara today and conducted a comprehensive investigation.Jathedar Gargajj described the incident as deeply shameful and painful, stating that the entire Sikh Panth is anguished over this desecration. Taking firm action, he announced a lifetime…

11 Aug

Giani Harpreet Singh Named Leader of New Panthic Party After Split in Shiromani Akali Dal

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Bibi Satwant Kaur, Giani Harpreet Singh, Punjab politics, SAD split, Shiromani Akali Dal

Chandigarh, Aug 11, 2025: Punjab witnessed a major shift in Panthic politics today after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), formed under the Akali Takht, split into factions. The party’s recruitment committee announced the creation of a new Panthic party, appointing former Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh as its leader.Bibi Satwant Kaur has been named chairperson of the Panthic Committee. Earlier, the Akali Takht, in alliance with the rebel group, had set up Panthic stalls at the Burj Akali Baba Phoola Singh Gurdwara to enroll members. The announcement of the new president came after the completion of this membership drive.According to sources,…

13 Apr

Anandpur Sahib Clash: Minister Bains, Akal Takht Jathedar Argue Over Roadwork and Religious Authority

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Anandpur Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Harjot Singh Bains

Anandpur Sahib, April 13, 2025 — A fiery confrontation unfolded today between Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, during a public event in Anandpur Sahib. What began as a question about local infrastructure turned into a charged debate over religious authority and the role of politics in Sikh institutions.The tension sparked when Jathedar Gargaj demanded answers about the long-pending construction of the road leading to Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. “Minister Bains, you’ve made announcements from this very stage. When will the road actually be built?” he pressed.Bains responded…

10 Mar

SGPC Installs Jathedar in Surprise Midnight Ceremony Amid Sikh Opposition

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Jathedar Appointment, SGPC, Takht Kesgarh Sahib

Sri Anandpur Sahib, March 10, 2025 – In an unexpected pre-dawn move, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) installed Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj as the jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib at 2:45 AM, seven hours before the scheduled ceremony. The decision came after Nihang outfits threatened to disrupt the event and several Sikh organizations announced a boycott over the controversial removal of previous jathedars.Giani Gargaj, 40, was also given additional charge as acting jathedar of Akal Takht, Sikhism’s highest temporal authority in Amritsar. The rushed appointment, conducted in the presence of the Panj Pyare (five beloved ones) of Akal Takht,…

08 Mar

Has Bikram Majithia Rebelled? Statement Emerges After Giani Raghbir Singh’s Removal as Jathedar

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Bikram Majithia, Giani Raghbir Singh, SGPC, Shiromani Akali Dal

Chandigarh, March 8, 2025 – A fresh crisis has hit the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) after senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia and other party veterans issued a strongly worded press note against a recent decision by the Akal Takht’s Interim Committee. The statement, seen as a direct challenge to the party’s current leadership, has sparked speculation about a possible internal rebellion.The controversy erupted after the sudden removal of Giani Raghbir Singh as Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib, a move that has left the Sikh community deeply divided. In the press note, Majithia and other senior Akali leaders expressed their discontent…

07 Mar

SGPC Removes Jathedar Raghbir Singh, Appoints Giani Kuldeep Singh as Acting Jathedar

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh, Jathedar Raghbir Singh, SGPC

Amritsar, March 7, 2025: In a major decision, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has removed Jathedar Raghbir Singh from his position as the head of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The SGPC has also relieved Giani Sultan Singh from his duties as Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the SGPC’s executive committee. New Jathedars Appointed Following the reshuffle, Giani Kuldeep Singh has been appointed as the acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He will also serve as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib. Additionally, Baba Tek Singh Dhanola has…

05 Mar

Akal Takht Panel to Launch SAD Membership Drive Amid Rift with Sukhbir Badal Faction

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, SAD membership drive, Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal

Amritsar, March 4, 2025 – The Akal Takht-appointed panel has announced the launch of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) membership drive from March 18, following an ‘ardas’ at the Akal Takht Sahib. This comes after the Sukhbir Singh Badal faction refused to support the panel’s efforts, deepening the divide within Sikh politics.The decision aligns with the December 2 ‘hukamnama’ (decree) issued by the Sikh clergy, which instructed a fresh membership process while condemning Sukhbir’s leadership. Despite the Badal faction already completing their own membership drive, the Akal Takht jathedar, Giani Raghbir Singh, clarified that the official process had not yet…