THE FIRST woman chief of the SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur Saturday announced a new outfit called the Shiromani Akali Panth which, she said, would “liberate” the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee – a representative body of Sikhs – from “the control of one family (read the Badals)”. Jagir Kaur was expelled by the Akali Dal last year after she decided to contest the annual SGPC president election, defying the party decision not to pick her for a fifth term. Kaur has talked of a “lifafa (envelope) culture” in the Akali Dal, suggesting that the name of the SGPC chief is dictated by the top. Kaur's announcement is also problematic for the Akali Dal as the party is at a low, lost its patriarch Parkash Singh Badal recently, and is staring at SGPC general house elections, meant to be held every four years but on hold since 2011. Excerpts from an interview: What are your aims for the Shiromani Akali Panth? KAUR: It would be a platform for all Sikhs contesting SGPC elections, many of whom right now fight as Independents. The SGPC is controlled by the Akali Dal as most of its seats are filled by party candidates as of now, as the voters don’t give much importance to Independent candidates. Hence, this platform, which will be for all such Sikh faces. they can be from the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party or the BJP. We want representation of Sikhs from all parties in the SGPC, not a single party or family. With a majority of the elected members from the Akali Dal, it has led to the control of one family over the body. The SGPC represents all Sikhs and it should not be under the kabza (control) of one party. Such a platform will only strengthen the SGPC. So, will the Shiromani Akali Panth contest only SGPC elections or will it also venture into mainstream politics? KAUR: As of now, the platform is meant to focus only on SGPC elections. We can have deliberations later and a political wing could be formed. But, right now, it is only about SGPC elections. There have been splinter Akali Dal factions earlier, floated by veterans such as the late Ranjit Singh Brahampura and former Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. They could not make much of an impact or challenge the Akali Dal. How do you see your outfit succeeding when they didn't? KAUR: The earlier breakaway factions were largely political in nature. The one I have announced relates only to the SGPC to begin with. There have been 'adjustments' in the past, (such as that) if someone did not get an MLA ticket, the person was adjusted in the SGPC. We will break away from these practices and establish the SGPC as a true representative body of the Sikhs. You are yourself a four-time SGPC chief. Were you not selected as part of the ‘lifafa culture’ you describe? KAUR: Yes, I have no hesitation in saying that. But, that is not good. And that is what we want to put an end to. Your move of floating the Shiromani Akali Panth follows your support to the BJP candidate in the recent Jalandhar by-election. Some say you are acting at the behest of the BJP. KAUR: Before I announced the Shiromani Akali Panth, word was spread that the BJP leadership including the Home Minister (Amit Shah) would attend that congregation. But, when I made the announcement, no political leader was present. As far as extending support to the BJP is concerned, the decision was taken following due deliberations with supporters and after taking up Sikh issues with the Central government (led by the BJP). When there was an Akali Dal-BJP alliance, we would support the BJP just on the command of the Akali Dal president. For 25 years, we voted for the BJP on the word of the Akali Dal president. Now, when I support the BJP while raising Sikh demands, they say I am doing it at the behest of the BJP. Why such double standards?
