Chandigarh, August 4: The Global Sikh Council, representing Sikh institutions across nearly thirty countries, has formally petitioned Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj to exercise his temporal authority to unite divided political factions ahead of the Punjab assembly elections. The diaspora body framed the move around traditional principles of Miri-Piri, asserting that spiritual and temporal guidance is necessary to overcome current political and socio-economic difficulties facing the state.
Addressing the current political landscape, the Council pointed out that internal divisions have weakened the community’s legislative presence, referencing the 2022 election results where only one of eleven Akali factions won assembly seats. GSC leaders maintained that a unified platform is essential to address ongoing regional issues, including law and order concerns, youth drug addiction, state water rights, and shifting demographic patterns.
In their formal submission to the highest temporal seat, Council signatories Dr Kanwaljit Kaur, Paramjit Singh Bedi, Harjeet Singh Grewal, Harsarn Singh, and Jagir Singh declared, “Sri Akal Takht Sahib has historically assumed this leadership role in moments of existential threat, exercised through the Jathedar of highest temporal seat as spokesman of the Guru Panth.”
The proposed framework asks the Jathedar to issue a directive uniting prominent groups, including Sukhbir Singh Badal’s Shiromani Akali Dal, Giani Harpreet Singh’s SAD Punar Surjit, Simranjit Singh Mann’s Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), and Amritpal Singh’s Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De). To manage internal rivalries, the Council suggested establishing a five-member Presidium or choosing an eminent independent professional to lead the combined front, referencing the historic selection of Dr Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister.
Beyond party politics, the representation encourages forming a wide coalition that includes Dalit representatives and other local political groups. The Council also outlined plans for a legal committee to inspect electoral roll discrepancies alongside the State Election Commission, while advocating for legislative measures to protect land rights, state jobs, and voting access for native residents. Global Sikh organizations and civic bodies worldwide have been invited to support the initiative.
