Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Aug 25: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has appealed to the US government to take a humanitarian approach in the case of Harjinder Singh, a Punjabi Sikh truck driver facing legal proceedings after a fatal crash in the US. In a resolution passed on Monday, SAD also urged the Indian government to provide immediate consular and legal aid to Singh and ensure his access to a fair trial.

Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal chaired a leadership meeting involving representatives from six Punjab districts. SAD leaders expressed outrage over reports that Singh was presented in court without his turban, calling it a grave insult to Sikh religious identity. Badal said the incident had deeply hurt sentiments across the global Sikh community, urging the US authorities to consider Singh’s background and the contributions of the Punjabi diaspora while deciding on the case.

SAD also extended condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the accident, affirming its belief that justice must be balanced with compassion.

Beyond the Singh case, the party passed a separate resolution criticizing both the Centre and Punjab’s AAP government over the ration card and atta-daal scheme issues. SAD alleged that political manipulation and bureaucratic hurdles, such as eKYC requirements and arbitrary deletions, had deprived lakhs of rightful beneficiaries of wheat and pulses. The party demanded immediate action to restore fair distribution.

The meeting further announced a major political conference in Moga on August 28, branding it the “Fateh Rally,” where SAD aims to mobilize over two lakh supporters. The rally will mark the start of its campaign against what it called the “misrule” of the AAP and set the tone for the 2027 state elections.

The resolution concluded with a reaffirmation of SAD’s commitment to supporting the global Punjabi community, especially those contributing to economies abroad, like the large network of Punjabi truck drivers in the US and India.