‘Where did the knife strike?’: As delegates gather to pick new SAD chief, Bikram Majithia brings up Bhunder’s ‘backstabber’ comment

Posing the question in a light-hearted manner, former minister Majithia – who is also Badal’s brother-in-law – said, “Balwinder Singh Bhunder is a great personality. He would say something and then decline it. It was not an easy inning for you as acting president. But I must ask you, where did the knife strike? You must tell me.” His comment left the SAD delegates in splits.

On March 8, Majithia had opposed the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee’s (SGPC) decision to remove Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh and Takht Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Suktan Singh.

Soon after, a written statement attributed to Bhunder was circulated, which read: “…Majithia is well aware of who is responsible for the turmoil that Sikh politics and the Shiromani Akali Dal have been going through in recent times. Bibi Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised Bikram Singh Majithia from childhood, and being part of the Badal family, he was given immense respect and prominence. Sukhbir Singh Badal stood by Majithia during tough times, offering him unwavering support. However, today, instead of standing strong with Shiromani Akali Dal and Sukhbir Singh Badal during challenging times, Majithia has betrayed them like a stab in the back.”

After initially denying that he had made the statement, Bhunder later admitted that he had made the remark. Sources, meanwhile, said that someone from Badal’s team had sent the statement to media without intimating Bhunder.

On Saturday, Majithia said during the party meeting, “I can offer you flowers but can’t even imagine striking with a knife. For us, you are a respected person. You will also get the opportunity to speak from the stage. You must tell us whose statement it was. If you don’t reveal it, you will be compelling me to tell because I know both the people who did this. I know everything. If I can have secret information about Chief Minister Bhagwant Man, then how difficult would it be to keep from me information about some of our own…”

Though Majithia kept his tone light, by bringing up the matter at the general house meeting of the SAD, he once again registered his dissent on the functioning of the party.