Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has stepped down from his position, said senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema on Saturday.

Daljit S Cheema, former Education Minister of Punjab, said, “The SAD President S Sukhbir Singh Badal submitted his resignation to the Working Committee of the party today to pave the way for the election of a new President.”

“He thanked all the party leaders & workers for expressing confidence in his leadership and extending wholehearted support & cooperation throughout the tenure,” Cheema wrote in a post on X.

Cheema further said an emergency meeting has been called by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Working Committee President S Balwinder S Bhundar on November 18 at 12 o’ clock at party headquarters office in Chandigarh.

He said the committee will consider the resignation submitted by Badal and will decide further course of action. “It may be mentioned that elections for the post of President, Office bearers & working committee of SAD are due on Dec 14, 2024 when five year term of present house expires,” he added.

It is worth noting that Badal’s resignation came days after he urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to pronounce his punishment for religious misconduct charges, saying more than two months have passed since he was declared ‘tankhaiya’ (guilty of religious misconduct).

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh on August 30, declared Badal ‘tankhaiya’  for “mistakes” committed by the SAD and its government from 2007 to 2017.

In July, Shiromani Akali Dal dissolved its core committee after a meeting held in Chandigarh. Party leader Daljit Singh Cheema informed on X that the core committee will be reorganised shortly.

Earlier, some leaders including Parminder Singh Dhindsa, and Bibi Jagir Kaur, among others, launched a revolt against party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, demanding change in the leadership after the party’s severe drubbing in the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Some leaders of the party held a meeting in Jalandhar seeking Badal’s resignation. However, some other leaders in the Akali Dal continue to repose faith in Badal.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the issue of infiltrators in Jharkhand and wondered how many intruders have entered the country in the last ten years.

The Congress chief asked if the infiltrators had entered, then whose responsibility was it to stop them. “Was it not the responsibility of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister?” Kharge asked.

Addressing an election rally in Jamtara, Kharge said the BJP never talks about the issues of the common man. Instead, it is constantly trying to create an issue of infiltrators in the state, he added. The Saffron party is creating fear among the citizens that the infiltrators will take over the state, Kharge said.

“The posts of Prime Minister and Home Minister are not just for giving speeches and creating fear among people. They are bound by the duties,” the Congress leader said.

“Today I want to ask the BJP leaders how many intruders have entered the country in the last ten years. And if they have entered, then whose responsibility was it to stop them? Is it not Modi-Shah’s? Infiltration has not stopped for ten years,” he said.

Voting for the first phase of 43 seats in Jharkhand was completed on November 13, Kharge said, adding the Opposition INDIA alliance is going to form the government in Jharkhand with a huge majority.

Sarna Dharma Code is an important part of tribal culture and religious identity, Kharge said. “We want that it should be implemented immediately and the rights and dignity of the tribal society should be protected,” he added.

During the rally in Khijri, Kharge also accused the Centre of using ED, CBI, and I-T against those who help the Congress and its allies.

“Anyone who speaks or writes against PM Modi or points out his mistakes is put in jail by the BJP. Investigative agencies like ED, IT, CBI are put after them. But… When injustice is done to Dalits, backward classes and tribals in the country, Modi remains silent,” he charged.

The senior Congress leader alleged that the BJP wanted to form the government in Jharkhand to loot its natural resources.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he is looking forward to meaningful discussions at the upcoming G20 summit in Brazil where PM Modi will take part in a wide range of programmes, both bilateral and multilateral, which will add momentum to India’s ties with various nations.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Over the next few days, I will be in Nigeria, Brazil and Guyana. I will take part in the G20 Summit in Brazil and will meet Caribbean leaders in Guyana. I will also be interacting with the Indian community during this visit.”

The statement released by the Prime Minister Office’s said that PM Modi’s first destination will be Nigeria from where he will travel to Brazil.

“In Brazil, I will attend the 19th G-20 Summit as a troika member. Last year, India’s successful presidency elevated the G-20 to people’s G-20 and mainstreamed the priorities of the Global South into its agenda,” the Prime Minister said.

PM Modi, alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden, will participate in the summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 and 19.

India is part of the G20 troika, which includes Brazil and South Africa. “This year, Brazil has built upon India’s legacy. I look forward to meaningful discussions in keeping with our vision of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’. I will also use the opportunity to exchange views on furthering bilateral cooperation with several other leaders,” PM Modi stated.

During India’s presidency of the G20 last year, significant achievements included the inclusion of the 55-nation African Union as a permanent member and the successful production of a leaders’ declaration that addressed divisions over the Ukraine conflict.

On his upcoming trip to Nigeria, Modi expressed that it would be an opportunity to “build upon our strategic partnership that is based on shared belief in democracy and pluralism.”

He will visit Nigeria on November 16-17 at the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, marking his first visit to the country, which plays a crucial role as a partner in West Africa.

Modi added, “I am also eagerly looking forward to meeting the Indian community and friends from Nigeria who have sent me warm welcome messages in Hindi.”

PM Modi will travel to Guyana from November 19 to 21, upon the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This visit will be the first by an Indian prime minister to Guyana in over 50 years.

“We will exchange views on giving strategic direction to our unique relationship, which is based on shared heritage, culture, and values,” he said.

He also mentioned his intent to honor one of the oldest Indian diasporas, which has been in Guyana for more than 185 years, and to engage with a fellow democracy during his address to their Parliament.