Former Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh has offered to “step down” as the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) breakaway faction in the “interest of Punjab and the Panth”.
According to sources, he volunteered to quit at a meeting of group leaders in Chandigarh on Saturday.
Called as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), the breakaway faction includes those rebel Akali leaders who had earlier sought a leadership change in the Sukhbir Badal-led party.
The group leaders had sought restructuring as per a decree issued in December last year by the Akal Takht — the highest temporal seat for the Sikhs.
Giani Harpeet was one of the five Sikh high priests, who had issued the decree. However, the Shiromani Akali Dal rejected it and carried out its own membership drive, resulting in Sukhbir’s return as the party president.
The SAD (Punar Surjit) is yet to get the approval of the Election Commission as a party separate from the SAD led by Sukhbir.
‘Chinks’ in grouping
The development has come amid reports of differences in the grouping. Two days ago, Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, considered among founding members of the group, had reportedly fired a salvo, saying he didn’t belong to any faction.
The faction leaders had earlier stayed away from campaigning in the Dakha Assembly constituency during the recent zila parishad and block samiti polls.
According to sources, Giani Harpeet was upset over the group’s support to some independent candidates.
When the issue of Ayali’s statement was raised in the meeting, Giani Harpeet said he had “come with the intention of sacrifice in the interest of Punjab and Sikh Panth”.
‘No acrimony’
However, group’s secretary general Gurpartap Singh Wadala said Giani Harpreet did not mention “point-blank” about resignation, but offered to “sacrifice”.
“The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere without any acrimony among leaders. Giani ji said he comes from a religious domain and took to the political arena only when a group of people challenged the Akal Takht’s authority and maryada,” Wadala said.
“He said that he took it as a challenge to pay them back in the same coin. But, he said, if there was dissent over his role, then he was willing to sacrifice,” added Wadala.
Former Akali Dal MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, who is also associated with the faction, said everyone spoke their heart out.
Chandumajra said a couple of leaders suggested to “resolve miscommunication”, take everyone into confidence to maintain unity