SAD Leaders' Bid to Reconcile Majithia and Badal Fails

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) acting president Balwinder Singh Bhunder and former MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha, who is not an official party member, visited the Chandigarh residence of SAD rebel leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday.

- TARUNI GANDHI

The meeting was reportedly an attempt to mend the growing rift between Majithia and his brother-in-law, Sukhbir Singh Badal.

However, Majithia was unavailable at home during their visit, meaning that the efforts at reconciliation within the party are still pending.

The division between Majithia and Badal became apparent after Majithia's outright disassociation from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's (SGPC) March 7 decision to remove Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Sultan Singh. The SAD-dominated SGPC had taken this action, which had raised humongous controversy in the Sikh community. Majithia and six other SAD leaders opposed the move, which they described as damaging Sikh sentiments immensely.

In a collective statement, they argued that religious matters of this nature should be approached with utmost caution and in accordance with Sikh sentiments.