Akal Takht Archives - National Times

30 Jun

Sikh Legislators and Ministers Present Themselves Before Sri Akal Takht Sahib to Discuss Institutional Reforms

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Amritsar, legislative meet, Punjab government, religious amendments, Sikh politics

SRI AMRITSAR SAHIB (Gurpreet Singh): In a spirit of humility and devotion, Punjab’s Sikh MLAs and Ministers, on Monday, appeared barefoot before Sri Akal Takht Sahib after paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar. Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated their profound reverence for the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs and said the Punjab Government would give due consideration to the suggestions received while fully upholding the dignity and sanctity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Addressing the media after paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib and appearing before Sri Akal…

21 Jun

AAP Demands Akal Takht Investigation Into Alleged Fake Video Campaign Targeting Punjab CM

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Akal Takht, Bhagwant Mann, Punjab, Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday urged the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to ensure a thorough investigation into the fake video campaign targeting the Punjab Chief Minister, saying the forensic examination of more than 1,100 frames has conclusively established that the person seen in the video is not the Chief Minister. AAP Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu said the focus must now shift to identifying the actor featured in the video, those who produced and directed it, and the individuals who financed what he described as a well-planned conspiracy. The AAP Punjab Media In-charge also…

16 Jun

Bhagwant Mann Rejects Viral Video, Alleges Political Conspiracy by Akali Dal

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Chief Minister, Shiromani Akali Dal, Viral Video Controversy

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday categorically rejected a fake video being attributed to him and pointed out that a malicious and politically motivated conspiracy was being executed at the behest of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal to defame him and derail the his government’s pro-people decisions. Describing the episode as a desperate attempt by vested interests rattled by the government’s tough anti - beadbi (sacrilege) legislation and pro-Punjab decisions, the Chief Minister said certain politically influenced functionaries were being used to spread false propaganda against him. The Chief Minister asserted that…

11 Jun

Sukhbir Badal Admitted Responsibility for Behbal Kalan Firing in Front of Akal Takht, Claims AAP

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Baltej Pannu, Behbal Kalan, Punjab politics, Sacrilege probe, Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu on Thursday said fresh revelations in the Behbal Kalan firing case have once again exposed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership’s attempts to evade accountability for the sacrilege incidents and subsequent police firing on peaceful protesters. Citing the statement of former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh before the SIT (Special Investigation Team), Baltej Pannu said that Sukhbir Singh Badal had accepted responsibility for the Behbal Kalan firing before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and sought forgiveness, making his current denial a direct contradiction of his own admission. The…

01 Apr

SGPC to follow Akal Takht directives on Rajoana’s mercy petition withdrawal

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Harjinder singh dhami, mercy petition

Amritsar (Gurpreet SIngh): The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced that it will strictly abide by the orders of the Akal Takht regarding the withdrawal of Balwant Singh Rajoana’s mercy petition. SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami addressed the media on Wednesday, following a high-stakes letter from Rajoana to the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. Dhami clarified that since the original clemency plea filed in 2012 was based on the instructions of the then-Sikh leadership and Panthic sentiments, any decision to rescind it must also flow from the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs. In…

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,…