Rebel Akali Dal Faction Blames Sukhbir Singh Badal For Wrong SAD Decisions, Apologises At Akal Takht In Amritsar

A rebel faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sought forgiveness at Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar on Monday (1 July) for various incidents that disillusioned the public during the party's rule in Punjab from 2007 to 2017.

The group, including former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, ex-SGPC president Jagir Kaur, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, and senior leaders Gurpratap Wadala and Surjit Singh Rakhra also submitted a letter to Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghubir Singh, holding president Sukhbir Singh Badal responsible for decisions that harmed the party.

The letter highlighted incidents like the pardoning of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the 2015 Sri Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege issue, the Behbal Kalan firing, and controversial police appointments, Indian Express reported.

The rebel group is one of two factions within the SAD, with the other still supporting Sukhbir Singh Badal.

The party has faced a significant setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, winning only one seat in Bathinda.

The rebel leaders expressed readiness to accept any punishment from Akal Takht Sahib, acknowledging their role in the government and their failure to prevent the leadership's wrong decisions.

Earlier in the day, the rebel leaders, including Prem Singh Chandumajra and Gurpartap Singh Wadala, visited the home of Khadoor Sahib MP-elect Amritpal Singh in Jallukhera village, Amritsar. Radical preacher Amritpal Singh has not yet taken the oath as MP due to his detention in Assam under the National Security Act.

Also read: 'BJP Stooges Trying To Break Akali Dal, Want To Replicate Maharashtra In Punjab': SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal