AS THE Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) battles rebellion within, one of the names that has seen constant mention is of Barjinder Singh Hamdard, 79, the owner and editor-in-chief of the prominent Jalandhar-based Punjabi daily newspaper Ajit — a part of the Ajit Group of Publications.
Akali Dal leaders supporting party president Sukhbir Singh Badal believe Hamdard is supporting the demand to replace him, pointing to the fact that the rebel leaders held a meeting recently at his farmhouse in Jalandhar. While Hamdard was not present at the meeting, he is known to have separately met some of the SAD rebels, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Prem Singh Chandumajra and Gurpartap Singh Wadala.
However, the rebel camp has denied that Hamdard has any hand in their demand, citing their long acquaintance with him as the reason behind the decision to hold the meeting at his farmhouse. Hamdard himself has remained unavailable for comment.
Ajit commands considerable influence in Punjab’s rural areas, a reason why political players have always courted its owners. Hamdard, a former Rajya Sabha MP and recipient of the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awards, has long been known to be close to the SAD leadership, especially the late Parkash Singh Badal.
Under the Akali-BJP government of 2012 to 2017, then CM Parkash Badal had entrusted Hamdard with significant responsibilities in its Rs 300-crore prestigious Jang-e-Azadi Memorial Project, to come up at Kartarpur in Jalandhar as a tribute to martyrs. Hamdard was made member-secretary of the Jang-e-Azadi Memorial Foundation, and chaired its executive committee.
Last year, when Hamdard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, SAD spokesperson and Sukhbir loyalist Daljit Singh Cheema was the first to put out a photo of the meeting, praising Hamdard as “a distinguished figure associated with Punjab, Punjabi culture and Punjabiyat”. Welcoming their meeting, Cheema posted on social media: “Only unbiased personalities can provide an accurate portrayal during Punjab’s current sensitive situation.”
The meeting was also seen by many quarters as a sign that the SAD was exploring a potential realignment with former ally BJP. The fact that Hamdard was close to BJP leaders as well meant that he was best placed to facilitate such a restoration of ties, it was felt.
Since then, however, the SAD’s political fortunes have been on the downslide. In 2017, the Congress came to power, to be replaced by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2022. While Ajit maintained cordial relations with the SAD through these political upheavals, it also provided extensive coverage to the fast-rising AAP in the state.
Then, in another turning point in the relations between the paper and the party, Parkash Badal passed away soon after the 2022 Assembly polls.
With the AAP government, which has a tetchy relationship with the media, Hamdard’s ties have been strained, allegedly over some articles published by it. These hit a new low after the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government initiated a Vigilance probe into the Jang-e-Azadi project, booking Hamdard too in the case recently. Hamdard’s response was that he had resigned from all positions related to the project in 2016.
Hamdard’s father Sadhu Singh Hamdard, a distinguished writer, was also editor of Ajit. Apart from holding positions in Ajit, Hamdard, who was a Rajya Sabha MP from March 1998 to December 2000, has served as the editor of several monthly magazines. In 1978, he became the first editor of the Chandigarh-based Punjabi daily Punjabi Tribune, holding the post till 1984, when he returned to take up the reins at Ajit.
Since 1996, he has also served as editor-in-chief of Hindi daily Ajit Samachar.
A decade ago, the Ajit Group diversified under Hamdard’s leadership to set up Jalandhar’s first multiplexes. Both his daughters are actively involved in the Ajit Group of Publications.
Besides, Hamdard is an accomplished author with 14 books to his credit, and has released music albums featuring Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi songs, and ghazals.
Ajit commands considerable influence in Punjab’s rural areas, a reason why political players have always courted its owners. (File) 
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