Shiromani Akali Dal disputes Akal Takht committee's actions

Chandigarh: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is upset with changes made by an oversight committee set up by the Akal Takht for its membership drive. Originally, the committee planned to drive enrollment for "Akali Dal," but later switched to "Shiromani Akali Dal." The membership slips had listed a fee of Re 1, but the final version did not mention any fee. Instead, it stated that the drive was organized by a committee from Akal Takht, which was formed on December 2, 2024. Gurpartap Singh Wadala, a committee member, explained that using "Akali Dal" was meant to avoid legal conflicts. SAD claims that no other group should use the name "Shiromani Akali Dal" for membership. They expressed concern over the legitimacy of the drive, questioning when and where "Akali Dal" was formed and registered. SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema criticized the committee for misleading the public and violating Akal Takht's instructions. Cheema stated that a seven-member committee was intended to oversee the drive, not the five-member committee now operating. Another SAD member, Parambans Singh Romana, argued that the five-member committee is acting independently and pointed out inconsistencies regarding resignations from the main committee. Wadala responded to SAD’s criticisms by asserting that "Shiromani Akali Dal" is not a trademark owned by anyone, and changes can be made in the future if needed. He invited SAD to join their enrollment efforts, claiming theirs aligns with Akal Takht's mandate.