SGPC Elections: President, office bearers to be chosen today; fight between SAD and its rebel faction

Akali Dal's acting chief Balwinder Singh Bhundar reached Teja Singh Samundri Hall located in the premises of the Golden Temple on Monday and held talks with SGPC members associated with the Akali Dal.

Amritsar: The elections for the President post of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) are today. In these elections, the rebel group of SAD separated from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is also in the fray. While the Akali Dal has expressed confidence in former chief Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, the rebel group has made Bibi Jagir Kaur its candidate.

Akali Dal’s acting chief Balwinder Singh Bhundar reached Teja Singh Samundri Hall located in the premises of the Golden Temple on Monday and held talks with SGPC members associated with the Akali Dal. The purpose of this meeting was to prepare a blueprint for today’s elections.

At the same time, the attitude of the rebel group of the Akali Dal is still tough. Bibi Jagir Kaur claims that she has secured the support of about 125 members with the aim of getting votes in favor of her leadership.

Bibi Jagir Kaur is promising SGPC members to restore the independent authority of Sikh institutions and leaders such as the Jathedars of the five Takhts and to carry out reforms to prevent external political influence. Along with this, she is also promising SGPC members to increase facilities for devotees and digitize land records, and start a fresh effort for Sikh religious outreach through initiatives like Dharm Prachar Lehar.

Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, who has got the support of Akali Dal, is demanding votes for him again on the basis of his past achievements. This also includes initiatives like adding pictures of Sikh martyrs to the Central Sikh Museum in the Golden Temple. The Dhami faction says that the Akali Dal Badal faction will get a substantial majority in the elections. They allege that anti-Panthic forces including BJP and RSS are using financial inducements to influence SGPC members and weaken the influence of SAD on Sikh institutions