Chandigarh, July 22, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Leaving the patronage of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and accepting the patronage of a particular individual is a grave violation of Sikh principles. By doing so, Iqbal Singh Jhunda has betrayed the Panth and Punjab. These views were expressed by Shiromani Akali Dal (Reorganized) Secretary General Gurpartap Singh Wadala while addressing a press conference.
Senior leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Reorganized), including Secretary General Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Gobind Singh Longowal, Gaganjit Singh Barnala, Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, Gurjit Singh Talwandi, Jagjit Singh Kohli and others, addressed the media at Lubana Bhawan today.
They stated that the organization had never authorized Jhunda to announce an alliance with any other political faction on behalf of the organization. Therefore, by announcing such an alliance, he is misleading the Panth and Punjab.
Wadala said that if Jhunda does not agree with the policies of his organization, he is completely free to join another political party. However, without forming a new party, announcing an alliance with another political faction is tantamount to deceiving both himself and that political faction.
Wadala said that, in accordance with the directives issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib on December 2, the reorganized Shiromani Akali Dal is organizing itself according to the principles of Miri-Piri and preparing itself for the Panthic struggle. However, members of the Recruitment Committee constituted in accordance with the same directives are now looking for new political destinations for their own interests, while claiming that they have no personal political ambitions.
He questioned that if they genuinely have no political ambitions, why did they not contribute towards strengthening the party that emerged as a Panthic political platform? Instead of building organizations in their respective districts, they did not even organize meetings with party workers. Now, when they are distancing themselves from the organization by making false allegations, does this not amount to a direct betrayal of the 1.5 million people whom they themselves had enrolled?
There is a saying that One should wish for the well-being of the boat in which one is sitting.” However, Jhunda and Iyalie continued to sit in the boat of the Reorganized Shiromani Akali Dal while wishing for the well-being of someone else. They also wanted Giani Harpreet Singh to accept the leadership of another individual. But we want to make it absolutely clear that we will not allow the platform created by Sri Akal Takht Sahib to be handed over to anyone else.
Wadala clarified that his organization is fully committed to Panthic unity. Due to the efforts of Giani Harpreet Singh, unity with several Panthic groups has already been achieved. However, those who repeatedly call for unity have so far only worked to divide the Panthic platform created under the directives of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Not a single genuine effort by them to unite the entire Panth has come to light.
Jathedar Wadala said that Sardar Jhunda should explain whether, first as a member of the Coordination Committee and even now, he ever made any effort for Panthic unity or contacted any political or Panthic faction for this purpose. These leaders appeared to be using the party platform for their political interests while misleading people in the name of Panthic unity.
He further alleged that they repeatedly misled party leaders in the name of Panthic unity, called meetings and incited them against their own party leaders. Instead of making any sincere effort to strengthen his own party, Sardar Jhunda continued to act merely as a spokesperson for Waris Punjab De.
During today’s press conference, Wadala also strongly condemned the lathi-charge carried out by the police on students during their protest in Delhi. He said that the government should listen to the concerns of the protesters with sympathy and understanding.
While issuing the press note regarding today’s press conference, Tajinder Singh Pannu stated that, besides Wadala, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Gobind Singh Longowal, Gagandeep Singh Barnala, Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad, Davinder Singh Sodhi, Gurjit Singh Talwandi, Baba Hardeep Singh, Tajinder Singh Pannu and Jagjit Singh Kohli, among other leaders, were present at the press conference.
FOLLOW NOW
