This is an archive article published on March 29, 2023
Akal Takht Jathedar tweet on meet to discuss ‘current situation in Punjab’ withheld, SAD targets CM Bhagwant Mann
More than 100 Twitter accounts and tweets have been withheld in India since the crackdown on Amritpal began. Punjabi singer Babbu Mann’s Twitter account was also withheld on Monday.
5 min readAmritsarUpdated: Mar 30, 2023 07:40 AM IST
The move comes two days after the Jathedar asked the government to restore the Twitter accounts of journalists and Sikh activists that were withheld following the police crackdown on Amritpal Singh. (File)
Akal Takht Jathedar tweet on meet to discuss ‘current situation in Punjab’ withheld, SAD targets CM Bhagwant Mann
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A tweet by Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, calling for a gathering of different Sikh sects, groups, intellectuals and writers at the Akal Takht to discuss the “current situation in Punjab” has been withheld in India.
The move comes two days after the Jathedar asked the government to restore the Twitter accounts of journalists and Sikh activists that were withheld following the Punjab Police crackdown on pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh on March 18.
This also comes at a time when the Jathedar is engaged in a war of words with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann — the trigger being an ultimatum issued by Giani Harpreet Singh on Monday to the Punjab government asking it to release within 24 hours all “innocent Sikh youth” arrested amid crackdown on Waris Punjab De and its chief and pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal Singh. The ultimatum was issued after the event whose poster has now been “withheld in India in response to legal demand”.
The singer, who has 2.42 lakh followers on Twitter, had not posted anything since the police crackdown began on March 18.
More than 100 Twitter accounts and tweets have been withheld in India since the crackdown on Amritpal began. Punjabi singer Babbu Mann’s Twitter account was also withheld on Monday. The singer, who has 2.42 lakh followers on Twitter, had not posted anything since the police crackdown began on March 18.
Reacting to the latest development, Shiromani Akali Dal Badal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Now the governments have come down to the extent of banning even the words from Sri Akal Takht Sahib. My warning to Bhagwant Mann is not to challenge Guru Ghar. Stop the attacks on the highest shrine of Miri Piri, otherwise remember the horror of those who challenged Sri Akal Takht Sahib”.
At a press conference, senior SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema asked Mann to “apologize” to the Sikh Sangat for “insulting” the Akal Takht and its Jathedar. Cheema also asked the chief minister to “seek forgiveness from the supreme temporal seat for filing a complaint to remove a tweet of the Jathedar from social media besides accusing the latter of inflaming passions”.
“Jathedar Sahib convened a meeting of intellectuals and political leaders to discuss the crackdown against innocent Sikh youth. Respecting the sentiments of the ‘sangat’, an ultimatum was given to release the innocent youth within 24 hours. Instead of respecting this religious directive, the chief minister chose to not only insult Jathedar Sahib but also previous Jathedars of Sri Akal Takht Sahib besides politicizing a case which was essentially one of human rights abuses,” Cheema said.
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Asserting that all this had hurt Sikh sentiments, Cheema said it was condemnable that instead of realizing his mistake, the chief minister was “displaying arrogance”.
“It is a fact that the state government was forced to release a large number of Sikh youth who had been arrested on trivial charges,” Cheema demanded all pending cases against the youth who had secured bail should be withdrawn. The Akali leader also demanded “a stop to state repression against youth, intelligentsia, artists and media persons”.
Asserting that Akal Takht was a symbol of pride for Sikhs and that it had always stood up against repression and tyranny, Cheema said “The Akal Takht has also always upheld human values.”
“The CM is defaming Punjabis in league with the Central government. The current politics of polarization is aimed at taking Punjab back to the era of darkness,” he added.
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SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami said the Akal Takht Sahib is the highest temporal seat of Sikhs and whenever its “jathedar” gives a call to the community, it congregates accordingly. But by withholding the jathedar’s tweet related to the meeting convened by him on March 27, governments have “exposed themselves that they are suppressing the voice of Sikhs in India and have not even left the jathedar out of its ambit”, he said.
He said the Centre and state governments should immediately stop this “game being played by them together”.
Dhami also criticised CM Mann for his comments on the jathedar through a tweet. “Bhagwant Singh Maan’s comment on Jathedar sahib is a direct challenge to the dignity of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Sikh community. He should immediately apologise to the Sikh community for this,” he said.
The Akal Takht is the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs and its Jathedar plays an important role in Punjab politics. Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had met Giani Harpreet Singh at Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo town of Bathinda on January 25 earlier this year. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had also visited the Akal Takht Jathedar on February 14 last year.
Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts.
Core Beats & Specializations
Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions.
National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups.
Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies:
1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht
"Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015.
"YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies.
"As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications.
2. Crime & National Security
"Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison.
"Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border.
"15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions.
3. Political Analysis & Elections
"AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress.
"Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages.
"AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions.
4. Human Interest
"Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction.
"Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo.
Signature Beat
Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect.
X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More
The singer, who has 2.42 lakh followers on Twitter, had not posted anything since the police crackdown began on March 18.