Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal launched a sharp critique of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, stating that he does not consider Mann a Sikh due to his alleged lack of knowledge about Sikh history. Badal said, “I do not consider him (Bhagwant Mann) a Sikh. He wears a turban to show that he is a Sikh. He does not know the history of Sikhs. We feel sad when we see him and hear his statements.”
Drawing a comparison between Muslim and Sikh leadership, Badal highlighted the unity within the Sikh community despite being a minority.
“The population of Muslims in the country is about 18 per cent, but they have no leadership because they are not united. We are 2 per cent, but we are united under Sri Akal Takht Sahib,” he said.
Accusing the Punjab government of being controlled by Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, Badal said, “They (AAP) are looting Punjab, and Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Punjab, not Bhagwant Mann.”
The Aam Aadmi Party secured a landslide victory in the 2022 Punjab state polls, winning 92 seats in the 117-member Assembly, surpassing the Congress which managed to secure 18 seats.
In a bid to strengthen the Shiromani Akali Dal’s presence, Sukhbir Singh Badal announced plans to establish party units in all states with a Sikh population. During a meeting with members of the Sikh Sangat of Sri Patna Sahib (Bihar) and Mumbai (Maharashtra), he urged the Sikh community to remain united.
“I appeal to all of you not to be divided and remain united…Shiromani Akali Dal will establish party units in all the states,” Badal said.
The meeting also witnessed the reunion of veteran Akali leader S Manjit Singh GK with the Shiromani Akali Dal, along with his entire Jago party team. Badal expressed confidence that this unity would strengthen the Sikh community and contribute to the resolution of pending demands.
“This is part of a process to effect Panthic unity in the Sikh quom. The community is facing various challenges, and the resolution of all can only be achieved if we all get united under the flag of the Panth – that of the Shiromani Akali Dal,” Badal added.
Earlier this month, Badal had appealed to dissident Akali leaders to set aside their differences and unite under one flag. “Those who have ‘Panthic’ thinking, who have Shiromani Akali Dal in their hearts and blood, Shiromani Akali Dal is only one, and those factions which want to divide, I want to tell them that there is strength in unity,” he stated at a gathering in gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh at the Akal Takht in Amritsar.