BJP Punjab President criticises Akali Dal for challenging Akal Takht’s authority

Chandigarh: BJP state president Sunil Jakhar on Saturday criticised the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), accusing the party of challenging the high authority of the Akal Takht and hurting Sikh sentiments. He said the SAD should reflect on its own actions before pointing fingers at the BJP.

In a statement, Jakhar strongly condemned the SAD’s conduct during a meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall a day earlier, calling it an attack on the dignity of the apex institutions of the Panth. He said that while SAD leaders were levelling baseless allegations against the BJP, they were only trying to divert attention from their own misdeeds.

Jakhar said the Akali leadership had not only failed to atone for past mistakes but continued to make new ones.

He added that while the SAD could have appealed to the Akal Takht to reconsider its decision to revoke the title of Fakhr-e-Qaum (Pride of the Community) from former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, instead they passed a resolution directly challenging the Takht’s authority — a move he termed a “grave sin.”

Once established for Panthic interests, the SAD has now been reduced to a party driven by personal ambitions, Jakhar alleged. He said Punjab is currently in a sensitive situation, but instead of addressing public issues, SAD leaders are focused on individual power.

Jakhar said the recent actions of SAD have once again exposed its leadership. “Guru Maharaj is a benefactor. It would have been better had the Akali leaders corrected their old mistakes. But their recent move of questioning the Akal Takht’s authority has deeply hurt Sikh sentiments,” he said.