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SAD counters sacrilege charge, targets AAP over Dera Sirsa links

Akali leaders accuse Mann government of delaying prosecution against Gurmeet Ram Rahim and announce poll promises ahead of 2027

4 min readMuktsarUpdated: Jan 14, 2026 09:59 PM IST

Addressing the gathering, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that both the Congress and AAP had politicised the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to target his party. (Express Photo)

Using the Maghi rally platform to set the tone for the 2027 Assembly elections, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) on Wednesday sought to turn the tables on the 2015 sacrilege issue, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party government of colluding with Dera Sirsa head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, an accused in the sacrilege cases.

Addressing the gathering, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that both the Congress and AAP had politicised the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to target his party. “The Congress and AAP politicised the sensitive issue of the sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib to defame SAD,” he said.

Badal claimed that incidents of sacrilege began in Punjab after AAP’s entry into the state in 2014. Referring to the Malerkotla case, he said an AAP MLA had been convicted in a sacrilege matter. “Once we come to power, we will probe AAP’s role in the sacrilege incidents to get to the bottom of this conspiracy,” he added.

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Earlier, senior party leader and spokesperson Maheshinder Grewal accused the AAP government of shielding Gurmeet Ram Rahim by delaying prosecution. He said the case against the Dera Sirsa head had been shifted from Faridkot to Chandigarh, but despite three years having passed, the trial had not begun. “There is no stay in the case. Then why has the prosecution not started?” Grewal asked, alleging that the delay was aimed at allowing witnesses to turn hostile.

Grewal also questioned the repeated paroles granted to Gurmeet Ram Rahim, saying this amounted to “rubbing salt in the wounds of the Sikhs”. He claimed there had been 120 sacrilege incidents during AAP’s tenure, but the alleged conspiracy behind them had not been uncovered.

It was the first time the SAD accused AAP, from the party stage, of colluding with Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

Badal also alleged that the AAP government was now targeting SAD leaders. “They want to register a case against me. I am ready. Like Parkash Singh Badal, I will not bow,” he said, while questioning what consequences would follow for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

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Claiming that Punjabis wanted an end to AAP rule, Badal appealed for support for a regional party to safeguard the state’s future. He announced a series of poll promises, including free tubewell connections for farmers who do not have one, interest-free loans of Rs 10 lakh for youth, and removal of road tax on motorcycles.

The SAD president said his party was committed to correcting what he termed historical injustices, including diversion of Punjab’s water to Rajasthan through the Rajasthan Canal. He also promised to reserve government jobs for Punjabis, restart the Kabaddi Cup and livestock championships, and tackle gangsterism and drug trafficking if SAD returned to power.

Badal also appealed to leaders who had left the party due to anger or grievances to return to the SAD fold, saying the party needed unity to “save Punjab”.

Addressing the conference, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami urged the Sikh community to identify forces he said were trying to weaken SAD and its religious institutions.

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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