SAD leaders attempt to placate Bikram Majithia amid growing rift

Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has begun efforts to mend ties with disgruntled leader Bikram Singh Majithia. On Monday, party working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder and former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha visited Majithia’s residence in Chandigarh but were unable to meet him.

Valtoha said they were trying to ease tensions caused by recent disagreements. While they met Majithia’s wife, Ganiv Majithia, they could not meet Majithia himself as he was visiting his lawyer. Bhunder also waited briefly before leaving due to an urgent call.

The visit comes amid a growing divide between SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Majithia. The friction intensified after Majithia distanced himself from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) March 7 decision to remove Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh and Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Sultan Singh. Bhunder later accused Majithia of “backstabbing.”

Majithia, in a joint statement, called the SGPC’s decision “very hurtful” to the Sikh community, stating, “Guru Sahib Ji has given divine status to the Sangat, and in view of their sentiments, we cannot agree with this decision.”