Akali Leader Manjit Singh GK calls BJP statement on ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ false
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, December 23, 2025: Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of making false claims regarding the naming of December 26 as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.
Responding to a statement by BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawala, Manjit Singh GK said the allegation that he and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had recommended the name ‘Veer Bal Diwas’ during a seminar attended by former Union minister Smriti Irani and India TV chairman Rajat Sharma was untrue.
He maintained that there was no press release or official communication from the DSGMC supporting such a recommendation. To counter the claim, Manjit Singh GK said he had shared a video link of the seminar, which, according to him, clearly shows that neither he nor Sukhbir Singh Badal demanded the naming of the day as ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.
The former DSGMC chief said the BJP leader was opposing the directive of the acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj, who had called upon Sikh Members of Parliament to seek renaming of the day as ‘Sahibzade Shaheedi Diwas’ instead of ‘Veer Bal Diwas’.
Manjit Singh GK further alleged that attempts were being made to mislead the Sikh community through misleading social media posts. He said the issue had earlier been under the consideration of the then acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Harpreet Singh.
He added that he would initiate legal action against the BJP leader over what he termed as false and misleading statements.