Without mentioning any allegation directly, Sukhbir said that whatever had been written against him or the party by the rebels, he sought unconditional forgiveness from Guru Sahib.

On July 1, rebel SAD leaders including former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Jagir Kaur, former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, senior leaders Gurpratap Wadala and Surjit Singh Rakhra appeared before the Akal Takht Jathedar and apologised for the “mistakes” committed when the party was in power in the state between 2007 and 2017.

Acting on a letter from rebels, the Akal Takht Jathedar summoned Sukhbir and sought his clarification on the allegations. Sukhbir then visited the Sri Akal Takht Sahib on July 25 and submitted his response to allegations.

Sukhbir wrote to the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar, “Sri Akal Takht Sahib is the blessed throne of the Guru. The omnipotent Guru is all-knowing. Arguments and justifications are needed where there is a necessity to explain something or where there is a compulsion to hide something. I am a humble servant of the Guru’s house. I have always been dedicated to Sri Guru Granth Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib. Without any questions or answers, I sincerely pray to Waheguru. Whatever has been written against us, I present myself before the great throne of the Guru, seeking unconditional forgiveness from Guru Sahib and the Guru Panth. As the head of the family, I take all the mistakes upon myself. Whether these mistakes are from the party or the government, I am seeking forgiveness for all these mistakes and shortcomings, whether done knowingly or unknowingly. Every command issued by Sri Akal Takht Sahib in accordance with Gurmat traditions will be accepted by me and my companions with humility. My prayer is that the Almighty keeps the Panth and Punjab always in rising spirits.”

“During the government of the Shiromani Akali Dal from 2007 to 2017, several incidents occurred that led to a large section of the Sikh Panth and the people of Punjab becoming disillusioned with the leadership of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Consequently, the Shiromani Akali Dal has faced failures in the religious sphere and also experienced political alienation,” the rebel group said in its letter.

“In 2007, at Salabatpura, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, mimicked the Tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, by dressing similarly and performing a ceremony. This led to a police case, but the Shiromani Akali Dal government later withdrew the case. In response to this incident, the Akal Takht Sahib had excommunicated the Dera chief. However, Sukhbir Singh Badal used his influence to get the Dera chief pardoned,” the rebels’ letter further stated.

“During this period, the Shiromani Akali Dal government made another major mistake by appointing an officer Sumedh Saini who was notorious for fake police encounters resulting in the martyrdom of Sikh youths as the Punjab Police chief, giving a ticket to the wife of another such officer who had formed the Alam Sena to carry out killings, and making her a chief parliamentary secretary. Unlike previous Akali governments, the Akali government formed in 2012 failed to conduct an impartial investigation into fake police encounters and provide relief to the victims despite promises made to the people,” the rebels added in their letter.