Giani Harpreet Singh Targets SAD (Badal) Over Legal Arguments in Facebook Post

Shiromani Akali Dal (Punarsurjit) president and former Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh, has strongly reacted to the summoning of Punjab government ministers and MLAs to the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. In a detailed Facebook post, he questioned the functioning of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and criticised the legal arguments advanced by some of its leaders. In his post, Giani Harpreet Singh wrote that he was thankful to the Almighty that the Aam Aadmi Party did not have legal experts like Grewal, Cheema and Sarna, and that the Badal-led government was not in power. He remarked that, otherwise, television channels would have immediately witnessed arguments claiming that AAP legislators could not appear before Sri Akal Takht Sahib because doing so could allow the Central Government to dismiss the state government or prompt the Election Commission to cancel the party's recognition. He further stated that similar arguments would have been made questioning how a Jathedar could direct a democratically elected government to repeal or amend a law. He also said that questions would have been raised as to why no Jathedar had ever ordered the repeal of several laws that were allegedly considered anti-Sikh. Taking a sarcastic swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party, Giani Harpreet Singh advised the party that if it was inducting leaders from other political parties, it should also include Cheema, Meshi Grewal and Delhi-based Sarna. According to him, such leaders would prove useful to the party during situations like these while also benefiting the Panth. The Facebook post has generated widespread discussion on social media and drawn significant attention in political and Panthic circles. The remarks are being viewed as a direct and sharp political as well as ideological attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).