Jathedar calls meetings amid controversy over SAD recruitment drive

Amritsar: Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the recruitment process of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, has called a gathering of the five Singh Sahibans at the Akal Takht Secretariat on Tuesday.

According to a notification issued by the Secretariat In-charge, the meeting will be held at 9:30 am on April 8 to deliberate on Panthic, religious, and social matters ahead of Khalsa Sajna Diwas (Baisakhi).

Though the agenda has not been made public, sources said the SAD recruitment issue—being conducted under the banner of Panthic matters—may also be taken up for discussion.

Apart from the recruitment row, the meeting is expected to address the intensification of the Dharma Prachar movement and other Panthic issues.

It may be recalled that a seven-member committee was formed on December 2 from the ‘fasil’ of Sri Akal Takht. Currently, a five-member body from that group is overseeing the SAD’s recruitment process, though two members have since resigned.

Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has called its own Working Committee meeting at 2 pm on April 8 at the party office in Chandigarh.

SAD spokesperson and senior leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said the meeting will be chaired by the party’s working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder. It will finalise the date for the delegate session to elect the new president and other office-bearers.

Cheema said that the SAD has completed its recruitment drive, enrolling nearly 27 lakh members. Of these, 525 will serve as delegates for the party elections, including 468 from Punjab and the rest from other states.

Confusion continues to persist among the general Sikh community regarding the legitimacy and parallel nature of the recruitment activities carried out by both the Akal Takht-backed committee and the SAD.