Akal Takht committee meets Amritpal Singh's father to seek support for Panthic unity and revive Shiromani Akali Dal
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Amritsar: In a move that could reshape the trajectory of Punjab's panthic politics, a committee formed by the Akal Takht to revive the
Shiromani Akali Dal
(SAD) has reached out to Bapu Tarsem Singh, the father of jailed MP
Amritpal Singh
, in a bid to unite Sikh political voices under a common platform.
The five-member panel met Tarsem Singh and his associates at their home in Jallupur Khera village, marking a significant outreach beyond the party's traditional base. Sources said the discussions centred on building a broader alliance of panthic groups and rejuvenating the SAD, whose influence has waned in recent years, among Sikh youth particularly.
Even though no formal role for Amritpal Singh was disclosed, his symbolic presence loomed large over the meeting.
Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a member of the committee, acknowledged Amritpal's growing appeal. "Even behind bars, he commands deep respect from Sikh youth and rural voters. His sweeping electoral win was more than personal — it was a call for principled, value-driven leadership," he said.
Constituted on Dec 2, 2024, the panel had seven members originally but now includes Bibi Satwant Kaur, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, and Iqbal Singh Jhunda.
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In a joint statement after the meeting, the committee accused the SAD's past leadership of losing sight of its founding goals. "The party was hijacked by individuals focused on power solely, neglecting core issues like Chandigarh's status, river water disputes, and Punjabi language rights," the statement read.
Tarsem Singh welcomed the outreach and said the time had come to "pull the Panth out of crisis" by consolidating panthic sentiment. Sources close to the group said aligning with Amritpal's anti-drug stance and uncompromising image was part of a broader effort to restore political credibility among Sikh voters.
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