Akal Takht panel to meet Shiromani Akali Dal for membership drive talks

Amritsar: On the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, a panel will meet Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Tuesday to discuss launching a membership drive.

Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a rebel SAD leader and a member of the Akal Takht-formed committee, confirmed that all five panel members are in agreement with the directive.

The panel had recently submitted its report to Akal Takht, after which Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh welcomed the clear instructions. On March 4, all panel members will first pay obeisance at Akal Takht before finalizing the membership drive strategy.

Originally, the panel had seven members, but SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and SAD leader Kirpal Singh Badungar resigned. Their resignations, however, have not yet been accepted.

Shiromani Akali Dal has rejected the panel, maintaining its separate membership drive since January 20, 2024. The party’s leadership change was set in motion after Akal Takht’s December 2, 2023, directive led to Sukhbir Singh Badal’s resignation as president.