Bhajan Singh Walia

Bhajan Singh Walia was a Sikh religious leader and politician. He was the national general secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal until 2022. Previously, he was the secretary-general of Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi and became patron of Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi State) in 2022.^[1][2][3] He was also an elected veteran and office-bearer of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and representative for over 25 years. He also served as its general secretary for two terms and became it's senior vice-president in 2009.^[4][5]

Walia was a prominent leader of Sikhs actively known for management of Sikh affairs in New Delhi. He started as a member and served as the general secretary of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee elected in the late 90s. He became it's senior vice president in 2009.^[5][6][4]

In 1999, there were Sikh leadership disputes involving control of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and demand of re-elections. The two groups were Delhi leadership supported Gurcharan Singh Tohra group and Shiromani Akali Dal Badal group. Walia was among the Delhi Sikh leaders backing Tohra group. During his tenure as DSGMC general secretary, Walia challenged ten members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee who were loyalists of Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal as part of the controversy with growing demands of DSGMC re-elections and issue of withdrawal of an edict by Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale.^[7] Walia advocated for a separate Delhi based faction. Along with other leaders, he also sought for autonomy from the leadership of Shiromani Akali Dal. These tensions led to the formation of Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi), a breakaway political party focusing on local Delhi Sikh affairs. As DSGMC general secretary, he also took part in the meeting against Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee's show cause notice to Tohra which was collectively labelled as "unfortunate" by all present.^[8][9] In 2000 elections, Walia was Tohra group's candidate for the presidency of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee. He was the only opponent against Badal group's candidate for DSGMC presidency, Avtar Singh Makkar. Makkar, however, won the presidency as Walia's nomination was rejected by a judge.^[10]

He was also vocal on the matters related to the Sikh leadership of DSGMC. During his tenure as the general secretary and member, he questioned political claims made by Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) and others on several occasions.^{[11][12][13][6]} In 2002, he welcomed chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit to Golden Temple with a siropa or a robe of honor. It garnered attention as this honour was denied to Chief Minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh.^[14]

Walia was a member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee delegation working for Sikh marriage act's cabinet approval.^[15] In the late 2000s, there was a controversial call related with the helmet compulsion for Sikh women. He was vocal during the debate on the compulsion of wearing helmet and welcomed the high court's decision.^[16] He also added that if there is an issue raised from Akal Takht, the supreme religious body of Sikhs, they will move forward as per that.^[17][18] He was also a member of the delegation that met Law minister Salman Khurshid in 2012 to demand more representation of local Sikhs in Takht Sachkhand Sri Huzur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra.^[19]

In 2012, there were violent clashes among two Sikh groups. These clashes happened between supporters of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal-led) and Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi (Sarna-led) political partiesat headquarters of DSGMC in Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Sahib, Delhi. There were several Sikh organisations which worked to initiate peace among the groups. Walia was chosen as one of the two peace mediation representatives from the Sarna group after the violent clashes.^[20][21]

In 2014, a major controversy broke out in second highest Sikh shrine, Takht Sri Patna Sahib when it's former Jathedar Iqbal Singh declared his opponents guilty of misconduct. He also declared Walia as Tankhaiya or violator of religious conduct and judicial involvement was awaited. Iqbal Singh was previously sacked as the Jathedar of Takht Sri Patna Sahib and Walia was among his opposition.^[22][23][24] Walia was the nominated member of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to Patna Sahib's management committee. As the controversy grew, Walia was removed from the position.^[22] Later, Kulmohan Singh was unanimously appointed by the DSGMC executive panel replacing Walia.^[25]

Walia was nominated as the member of the management committee on 23 April 2012. On 3 September 2017, Sarna of Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi was elected as the president of Takht Sri Patna Sahib's management committee. Walia, again became a member of the executive panel of management committee.^[26] This was challenged by Shiromani Akali Dal in the court. It was argued that Walia could not have participated in the elections to elect a new president. Harmeet Singh Kalka said that Walia's tenure ended on 23 April 2017 as quoted by Jagran Prakashan.^[27][28]

Walia filed his nomination for Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee's president elections in 2000 as the Tohra group candidate. His nomination was rejected by a judge of Delhi High Court, Justice Jaspal Singh citing his prior executive terms which led to unopposed win of Avtar Singh Makkar as its president.^[10]

In 2002, he filed his nomination again and won the DSGMC elections conducted under Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras act, 1971 from Pitam Pura having served as its general secretary for two terms. He contested as a member of the Shiromani Akali Dal Delhi.^[9] After his tenure as general secretary, Walia became a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency of Delhi. In 2003, he protested towards his party's local MLA in the constituency as reported by Hindustan Times. As part of his protest he joined Indian National Congress.^[29] Walia also resigned from the Sikh cell of BJP and contested New Delhi legislative assembly elections for Shalimar Bagh on an INC ticket unsuccessfully.^[30][31][32]

He held the post of the secretary general of SAD (Delhi), a regional political party of Sikhs.^[2] In 2017, he was among the senior veteran leaders of DSGMC contesting 2017 Gurudwara general elections (DSGMC) representing Pitam Pura again. He was noted by Tribune India as a top contestant from Sarna group. He came as the first runner up in the elections with a margin of 105 votes.^[33][34]

He later remained with Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) until 2021. Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of Shiromani Akali Dal, a regional political party announced Walia's on his official Twitter account. He also announced that Walia will hold the office of party's national general secretary.^[35][36][37]

In 2022, Shiromani Akali Dal, the oldest political party of India saw another split with DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka announcing formation of a new party called Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi-State).^[38][39][40] Kalka announced that Walia will be one of the two senior patrons of the party. Their focus was announced to be on religious matters and contesting gurudwara polls as they dissociated with Shiromani Akali Dal.^[1][41]

• He was nominated as a member of the National Monitoring Committee for Minorities Education under Ministry of Human Resource Development of Government of India.^[42] As a member, he advocated for education of Sikh minorities and raised questions over Delhi University not granting minority status to DSGMC colleges.^[43]
• Apart from his service in the DSGMC for over 25 years, Walia also served as a member of the Prabandhak Committee of Takht Sri Patna Sahib in Patna, Bihar.^[44]
• He was also a trustee of Mata Sundri college for Women.

Walia had a son named Gurvinder and a grandson named Manav. His daughter-in-law shot herself in 2008 at the residence in Shalimar Bagh while both Walia and his son were not in the city.^[45]

Walia died in February 2024.^[46]

• Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee
• Shiromani Akali Dal