Akal Takht Archives - National Times

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…

18 Feb

Another Resignation from Akal Takht-Appointed Committee

nishuthapar10 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht

Amritsar (National Times) – The seven-member committee formed by Akal Takht to oversee the reorganization of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has seen yet another resignation. Professor Kirpal Singh Badungar has stepped down from the panel, following the resignation of Harjinder Singh Dhami. The committee was constituted by Sri Akal Takht to supervise the restructuring of the SAD, a historically significant political party in Punjab. However, the back-to-back resignations have raised questions about the committee’s stability and the future course of action regarding the party’s reorganization. While the reasons behind Badungar’s resignation remain unclear, the development is likely to stir…