SAD Launches New Membership Drive with a Target of 50 Lakh Members

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) launched its fresh membership drive on Monday, targeting 50 lakh members across Punjab and beyond. Former SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal renewed his membership by filling out a form at the party office in Badal village.

Sukhbir stated that under the directions of acting SAD president Balwinder Singh Bhunder, the party has officially kicked off its membership campaign. He expressed confidence that approximately 40,000 people from the Lambi Assembly constituency alone would join, helping achieve the broader target of 50 lakh members.

Controversy Over Supervision of Membership Drive

Rebel SAD leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala raised questions about the supervision of the membership drive. Last week, Wadala met with Akal Takht Jathedar Raghbir Singh, seeking clarity on who is authorized to oversee the campaign.

Wadala claimed that only the seven-member committee formed by the Akal Takht on December 2, 2024, had the authority to manage the membership drive. The Jathedar, according to Wadala, advised him to meet SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami for further clarification.

The seven-member committee includes:

1. Harjinder Singh Dhami
2. Former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar
3. SAD leader Iqbal Singh Jhunda
4. Rebel leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala
5. MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali
6. Santa Singh Umaidpur
7. Satwant Kaur

Meanwhile, SAD had formed its own committee on January 10 to oversee the drive, bypassing the Akal Takht’s directive.

Sukhbir Badal on HSGPC Elections

Commenting on the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (HSGPC) election results, Sukhbir Badal said, “The results have sent a clear message. Those who interfere in Sikh religious matters will be rejected by the people. Leaders like Baljit Singh Daduwal, who lost the elections, are agents of external powers. They disrupted the religious harmony in Punjab and Haryana and played a role in splitting SGPC and forming HSGPC. The results make it clear that external interference in religious matters will not be tolerated.”