Punjab: Bibi Jagir Kaur is new SGPC president

She was elected after the voting in the SGPC House during the Sikh body’s annual meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall on Friday.

Punjab, Bibi jagir kaur, Bibi jagir kaur case, Punjab elections, SAD, Lok sabah elections, general election, Indian express

Kaur was elected after the voting in the SGPC House during the Sikh body’s annual meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall on Friday.

After a gap of 15 years, former Punjab cabinet minister Bibi Jagir Kaur (66) on Friday made a comeback as chief of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). She was elected after the voting in the SGPC House during the Sikh body’s annual meeting at Teja Singh Samundri Hall on Friday.

Jagir Kaur replaced her own party’s Gobind Singh Longowal, who was SGPC president for last three years.

After being elected president, Jagir Kaur said, “I will expect support from everybody. I will make efforts to spread the message of the Guru. Unity of community is very important and it is need of the hour. We all are one and everyone will be respected. We should forget the differences to face the new challenges. I thank former CM Parkash Singh Badal, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal for showing confidence in me.”

Opposition had proposed name of Mithu Singh Kahneke for the president’s and he polled 20 votes.

Surjit Singh Bhittewind was selected senior vice President. Baba Buta Singh will be junior vice president, while Bhagwant Singh Sialka will be general secretary of Sikh body.

SGPC elections are held after five years, however, the House elects a president every year in November.

SAD has a majority in the House and party SGPC members had given all rights to Sukhbir to decide on new president’s name. Total 143 members were present in House and she got 122 votes. Voting was just a formality after Sukhbir cleared her name.

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She first became the SGPC president in 1999 when Sukhbir was still a youngster in Punjab politics. Before that, she was a minister in SAD government after becoming first-time Bulath MLA in 1997.

Jagir Kaur was elected MLA from Bholath in 2002 and 2007 also. She unsuccessfully contested Khadoor Sahib parliamentary elections in 2019.

It is second time that she has made comeback to the SGPC office. In her pervious term, she was seen as reformist.

Jagir Kaur had early success in politics, but her rise was was soon shadowed by death of her daughter in 2002. She was convicted by CBI court for abduction and murder of her daughter in March 2012. Later, Punjab and Haryana High court acquitted her from all charges in December 2018. Meanwhile, SAD didn’t offer her any big post though she remained president of SAD (Women’s Wing).

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She was lobbying to get back SGPC president since her acquittal by the High Court.

Her second term comes it a time when elections to the SGPC House are around the corner. Further, the SGPC in its 100th year is facing a credibility crisis over Birs that went missing.

A dharna on the issues is ongoing outside the SGPC headquarters and this will be the first challenge for the new chief.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

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

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