Mastuana Sahib, Punjab: In a notable development, a three-day deliberation on the structure and policies of the Shiromani Akali Dal is scheduled to be held at Mastuana Sahib from 1 to 3 August, 2025.
The organisers of this upcoming event have stated that invitations will be extended to all active Panthic personalities to participate in the dialogue.
“The need for this large-scale deliberation stems from a significant development that occurred on 2 December 2024, when key political leaders active in Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), office-bearers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and Jathedars of various Takhts publicly confessed to five major transgressions before the Sikh sangat at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. These included forming alliances and providing protection to individuals responsible for gross sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, such as the impostor cult leader from Sirsa; offering political and administrative positions to police officers involved in genocide and atrocities against Sikhs; undermining the sovereignty and sanctity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib; compromising the religious integrity, independence, and neutrality of the SGPC; and diluting the identity of the Shiromani Akali Dal by turning it into a regional Punjabi political party.
Despite these public admissions, the organisers say that a meaningful internal reflection or reform process did not follow. According to them, the structural and policy-related aspects of the Shiromani Akali Dal remained neglected, resulting in further fragmentation and confusion within the Panth rather than unity and guidance.
To address this vacuum, a meeting was held today at Mastuana Sahib—a historic spiritual and intellectual centre of Sikhi in Malwa region of Punjab—attended by representatives of Akal College Council, SGPC members, Panthic Jathas, Sikh organisations , and prominent Sikh figures. The consensus from the gathering was that merely changing faces within the Akali Dal would not suffice. Instead, what is truly required is a comprehensive structural reform of the party.
The organisers emphasised that the time is not for announcements, but for deep reflection. As such, the deliberation scheduled for 1-3 August will engage Sikh representatives from across India and the diaspora in open dialogue to clarify the constitutional framework and future direction of the Akali Dal. Based on the deliberations, a formal written draft will also be prepared. This initiative will be dedicated to the centennial commemoration of Sant Attar Singh Ji, who played a key role in addressing such Panthic challenges in the past. The organisers added that future sessions will also be organised on other important issues concerning the Panth.
Those present in today’s preparatory meeting included Jaswant Singh Khaira (Secretary, Akal College Council), council members Gamdoor Singh, Siasat Singh Gill, Gurjant Singh Duggan, and Dr. Gurmeet Singh. Other participants included Lakhwinder Singh Kanheke (Diwan Todar Mal Society), Major Singh, Jaspal Singh, and Ajmer Singh Mander from the International Sikh Federation (Ludhiana), Jathedar Sachdev Singh Gill, Teja Singh Kamalpur (SGPC member), Jagvinderjit Singh Sandhu and Dr. Jatinder Singh Sidhu (former Director Education, SGPC) from Patiala, and from Sikh Jatha Malwa: Bhai Malkeet Singh Bhawanigarh, Bhai Gurjeet Singh Duggan, Jatinder Singh Sangrur, and Malkeet Singh Changal (SGPC member). Others included Mithu Singh Kanheke (SGPC member, Mansa), Inderjit Singh Sandhu, Bhupinder Singh Garewal, Harpreet Singh Longowal, Prof. Jaspal Singh, Labh Singh Sangrur (Guru Gobind Singh Study Circle), Inderpreet Singh Sangrur, Avtar Singh Gill, Surinderpal Singh Sidki, Darbara Singh Dhaula, Manpreet Singh Gill, Prof. Nirpajeet Singh, Dr. Gurveer Singh Sohi, and Satpal Singh Sangrur (Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Sangrur), among others.
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