Don't drag feet, accept Sukhbir's resignation, jathedar tells SAD

Sikh clergy had on Dec 2 told party's working committee to accept party chief Sukhbir's resignation within 3 days, and reorganise party within 6 months

- Vishal Joshi

AMRITSAR: Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on Monday told the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to comply with the Sikh clergy's December 2 edict and accept party president Sukhbir Singh's resignation, besides working towards reorganising the party structure.

During an interaction, the jathedar said, "The SAD should not dilly-dally the matter and should comply with the hukamnama of the Panj Singh Sahiban (Sikh clergy) at the earliest."

On December 2, the Akal Takht had ordered the SAD working committee to accept within three days the resignations of Sukhbir Singh Badal and others, who had been declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) for the mistakes committed during the SAD regime in Punjab, and form a panel to hold elections for the post of SAD president and other office-bearers within six months. It has been over a month, but the working committee has failed to make any decision.

The Akal Takht had also constituted a seven-member committee, led by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, to work towards the party's reconstitution within six months.

Both factions of the party-the Sukhbir camp and the now-dissolved Sudhar Leher group of the rebels- had been given representation in the committee. However, the Sukhbir camp has not accepted this committee yet.