Amritsar: The Sarbat Khalsa group, known for appointing parallel jathedars of Sikh temporal seats including the Akal Takht, deliberated on key issues in Punjab during a meeting held here on Thursday, indicating a potential entry into the political landscape.Jarnail Singh Sakhira, the chief organiser of Sarbat Khalsa held on Nov 10, 2015, at Chabba village near Amritsar, said the vacuum in credible panthic leadership has reached a tipping point. “This is the moment when Punjab’s youth need direction, not slogans. If not addressed now, the drift will deepen,” he said. Dhian Singh Mand, officiating parallel jathedar of Akal Takht and former Lok Sabha MP from Ferozepur, argued that traditional panthic parties have “lost both moral authority and grassroots connect”. According to him, the current environment is “ripe for intervention” owing to rising incidents of sacrilege, persistent unemployment, agrarian distress and a widening disconnect between governance and Sikh sentiment. “Punjab is losing on every front. Repeated sacrilege incidents reflect systemic failure, forcing the state to legislate rather than prevent. Youth face shrinking job avenues, industries remain stagnant, and farming is under stress. In such a vacuum, directionless energy is easily diverted towards drugs or radical frustration,” Mand said. The meeting also took note of the growing influence of jailed Lok Sabha MP from Khadoor Sahib, Amritpal Singh, among sections of the youth. Sakhira clarified the Sarbat Khalsa group has not taken any decision to align with his outfit, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De. “We are watching the situation closely. Our objective is not personality-driven politics but a revival of panthic ideology,” he asserted. Experts suggest the group is weighing support to select panthic organisations rather than launching a conventional party structure immediately. “If the Sarbat Khalsa’s plans crystallise, it could mark the beginning of a new phase in Punjab politics where religious authority, youth mobilisation and socio-political reform intersect,” said a panthic expert, Ravinder Singh. MSID:: 130633343 413 |
