Amritsar, August 5 – The secretariat of Akal Takht here today made public Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s apology he had submitted to Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in response to allegations levelled by rebel Akali leaders.
Sukhbir Badal tendered an unconditional apology but he didn’t elaborate his mistakes committed during the SAD government. AsSukhbir Badal has written in the letter that he accepts all mistakes committed during their government or at party level. He said that he was living his life with devotion and religious practices. He said that whatever had happened in the past, it hurts the Sikh community. He said that he regrets for all mistakes.
Sukhbir however failed to mention the mistakes for which rebel SAD leaders had reached out to Akal Takht. The rebels have blamed Badal family for not giving justice for sacrilege incidents, giving apology to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh and making appointment of Sumedh Singh Saini as DGP by late Parkash Singh Badal.
Daljit Singh Cheema party spokesman said that Sukhbir Badal had submitted his apology as a humble Singh and the ball is now in the court of Akal Takht. He said that whatever decision, five high priests would take, SAD will accept it. Talking to a TV channel, Cheema refused to reply about questions raised by former IGP Ranbir Singh Khatra that Dera Chief’s letter given to Akal Takhat Jathedar was tempered. The Dera chief had not mentioned word apology in his letter and the letter was written in Hindi.
Khatra in a TV interview alleged that dera chief’s letter was translated in Punjabi and words ‘Khima da Jachak Han (I seek apology) were added in the Punjabi version. Khatra has also claimed that five Jathedars were summoned to CM house to hand over letter to them. Daljit Singh Cheema had handed over the letter. Khatra acclaimed that the Badal family was in constant touch with Dera head for votes. Earlier, former head of six member core committee of dera sacha Sauda Pardeep Kaler had also said that Sukhbir Badal went to meet dera chief before 2012 and 2017 assembly elections. He also claimed that dera Chief had not written the word ‘apology’ in his letter, it was added later by SAD leaders.
Sukhbir Badal in his three page letter has also attached apology letter earlier submitted by his late father Parkash Singh Badal. The text of letters submitted by father and son is almost similar.
Now it is upto Akal Takht Jathedar how he would deal with the crisis in the Akali Dal. SAD president had expelled all rebels who made a complaint against him and reconstituted the core committee.
