Wikipedia

Sukhbir Singh Badal

Sukhbir Singh Badal (born: 9 July 1962) is an Indian politician and businessman who served twice as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and is currently the president of Shiromani Akali Dal, and was a member of Parliament from the Firozpur Lok Sabha constituency.[1] He is the son of Parkash Singh Badal, who has served five times as the Chief Minister of Punjab. He is influential over the Sikh organizations of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.[2] Badal and his family have ownership stakes in an array of businesses- including real estate, transport and other activities.[3]

Sukhbir Singh Badal
Badal in 2008
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office
23 May 2019 – 4 June 2024
Preceded bySher Singh Ghubaya
Succeeded bySher Singh Ghubaya
ConstituencyFirozpur
In office
2004–2009
Preceded byJagmeet Singh Brar
Succeeded byParamjit Kaur Gulshan
ConstituencyFaridkot
In office
1996–1999
Preceded byJagmeet Singh Brar
Succeeded byJagmeet Singh Brar
ConstituencyFaridkot
Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab
In office
10 August 2009 – 11 March 2017
Succeeded bySukhjinder Singh Randhawa Om Parkash Soni
In office
21 January 2009 – 1 July 2009
Preceded byRajinder Kaur Bhattal
March 2007
Union Minister of State for Industry
In office
19 March 1998 – 12 October 1999
Preceded byMurasoli Maran
Succeeded byMurasoli Maran
Member of Punjab Legislative Assembly
In office
August 2009 – May 2019
Preceded bySher Singh Ghubaya
Succeeded byRaminder Singh Awla
ConstituencyJalalabad
Personal details
Born
Sukhbir Singh

(1962-07-09) 9 July 1962 (age 62)
Faridkot, Punjab, India
Political partyShiromani Akali Dal
Other political
affiliations		National Democratic Alliance (1998–2020)
SpouseHarsimrat Kaur Badal
Children3
RelativesMajithia family, Badal family, Kairon family
ResidenceChandigarh
As of 22 September, 2006
Source: [1]

Early life and Family

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Sukhbir Singh Badal was born on 9 July 1962 in a Dhillon Jatt Sikh family in the city Faridkot, Punjab. His mother's name is Surinder Kaur. Initially, he was educated at The Lawrence School, Sanawar. He completed an M.A. Hons. School in Economics from Panjab University Chandigarh from 1980 to 1984 and an M.B.A. from California State University, Los Angeles.[1][4]

He married Harsimrat Kaur Badal on 21 November 1991. She is also a politician and presently Member of Parliament of India from Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency since 2009 and was the union food processing minister under Prime Minister Narendra Modi until 17 May 2020.[5]

His son Anantbir Singh Badal made his first political appearance in 2019 before the Indian general election.[6]

Political career

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Sukhbir Singh Badal was a member of the 11th and 12th Lok Sabha, representing Faridkot.[7][8] He was Union Minister of State for Industry in Second Vajpayee Ministry during 1998 to 1999. He was also a member of Rajya Sabha during 2001 to 2004. In 2004, he was re-elected from Faridkot for 14th Lok Sabha.[9] He became the President of Akali Dal in January 2008. A year later in January 2009, he was sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab.[10] He was not the Member of Punjab Vidhan Sabha at that time. He resigned in July 2009, upon the completion of six-month period available for contesting elections for the assembly, during which he didn't contest any elections.[11] He was again appointed Deputy Chief Minister in August 2009 after winning by-elections from Jalalabad Assembly constituency.[12]

 
Badal with Parkash Singh Badal and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

2012 Punjab elections

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Akali Dal-BJP combined secured victory in the 2012 Punjab elections, beating anti-incumbency for the first time in Punjab.[13] Sukhbir was re-elected from Jalalabad and remained Deputy Chief Minister.[14][15] In the new government he held portfolio of Home, Governance Reforms, Housing, Excise and Taxation, Investment Promotion, Sports and Youth Services Welfare and Civil Aviation.[15] This victory and later victory in Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee elections in January 2013 elevated the position of Sukhbir Singh Badal as an important leader in politics.[16]

Leader of Opposition

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2017 Punjab elections

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Badal defeated Bhagwant Mann of Aam Aadmi Party and Ravneet Singh Bittu of Indian Natioanal Congress in 2017 Assembly Elections.[17] SAD and BJP alliance lost the majority to Congress.[18] In 2019, he was elected as Member Parliament of Ferozpur Lok Sabha Constituency by defeating Sher Singh Ghubaya of INC by securing more than 600,000 votes on 23 May 2019.[19]

2022 Punjab elections

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Badal was the president of Akali Dal during the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election. Badal contested from the Jalalabad Assembly constituency and lost the election to Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy of Aam Aadmi Party.[20] Badal lost by a margin of 30,374 Votes.[21] SAD BSP alliance contested in all 117 seats, and won 3 seats. SAD finished on third spot behind AAP and INC.[22]

Detentions and Protests

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Detentions

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He was arrested over the 2015 Kotkapura firing case, although he was let go due to lack of evidence against Badal.[23][24]

Later in 2020 he was detained for protesting against the corruption of health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu outside Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh's house.[25] Before his detainment he stated, "There is scam in vaccination, there is scam in Fateh Kit, there is scam in SC scholarship, farmers' land is being acquired" and then was dragged away by the Punjab Police.[26][25]

In 2021 during the 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protest, Sukhbir Singh Badal and his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal were detained by the Delhi Police as they led a protest march in the national capital to mark the first anniversary of the passage of three contentious farm laws.[27][28][29]

In October 2023 he was detained over the Sutlej Yamuna link canal issue, he protested against Bhagwant Mann who wanted to give Punjab's water to other states against the people's will.[30]

Protests

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Every year since 1999, Sukhbir Singh Badal protested against the 1984 Anti-Sikh riots and for the Indian Government to give justice for the victims.[31]

In 2015, Badal had protested against the Indian Government over the keeping of Sikh prisoners in jail, including the assassins of Chief Minister Beant Singh.[32]

In 2017 he protested against 4 Akali politicians not receiving clearance to contest in the Punjab elections.[33] He received an 'FIR' over blocking the Ferozepur-Ludhiana, Amritsar-Bathinda, Bathinda-Mansa, Chandigarh-Mansa, Jalandhar-Amritsar and Kharar-Chandigarh roads.[33]

From 2020 to 2022 he protested and received multiple legal cases for protesting during the 2020-2021 Indian farmers' protest.[28]

Sukhbir Singh Badal slammed Sikh preacher and radical Amritpal Singh for using the Adi Guru Granth as a shield during his protests in early 2023.[34] Although he also protested against the detainment of Sikh youth during Amritpal Singh's manhunt and the unofficial 'emergency' imposed by Bhagwant Mann.[35]

Like his father, Badal vehemently opposed the construction of the Sutlej Yamuna link canal and always supported the farmers of Punjab on the issue.[30]

Controversies

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Issues

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Many Sikhs protested against him for the Kotkapura firing case and asked him to apologize publicly, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) separated from the main Shiromani Akali Dal for the same reason.[36][37] In late 2023 he made a public apology to all Sikhs in front of the Akal Takht declaring that he would imprison the culprits if the Shiromani Akali Dal ever came to power in Punjab.[38] Many politicians from the Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee rejoined the mainstream Shiromani Akali Dal, such as Manjit Singh GK, Harpal Singh Jalla, Amrik Singh Janaitpur, Harpreet Singh Garcha, Jagdish Singh Garcha rejoined his party.[39][36]

In April 2015, a teenage girl died and her mother was seriously injured when they were molested and thrown from a running bus near Gil village in Moga district.[40] The bus was operated by Orbit Aviation, a company in which Badal has stake.[41] Subsequently, it was revealed by news reports that the Chief Minister of Punjab gave the girl's father ₹3 million in compensation.[42]

Nepotism and Politics

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He has borne the brunt of criticism from supporters of the Shiromani Akali Dal that he turned the party into a nepotistic and dynast party from its roots of a Democratic and Panth-centric party.[43] The Badal family has also been accused of shifting the focus of the Shiromani Akali Dal from Panth to Punjab and hence destroying the old party of Master Tara Singh.[43] The party President for the past 30 years have been Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal- after the complete losses to AAP and the INC in 2022 Legislative and 2024 General elections many party members took to protest and many left.[43] The Jhundan Reforms Committee report under Iqbal Singh Jhundan was prepared with steps to make the party succeed and continue as a representative of Punjab; but Sukhbir Singh Badal did not accept it.[44]

A rebel Akali Dal formed within the party including Manpreet Singh Ayali, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Iqbal Singh Jhundan and Parminder Singh Dhindsa.[45] While Sukhbir had announced his support for the NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu during the Presidential poll, Ayali's party had boycotted the election.[46] The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Akal Takht also assumed an autonomous role while dealing with the Akali Dal; often the Jathedar slammed the party for going from working for farmers and laborers to capitalists.[47] His promise to establish party units in all states having Sikh populations outside Punjab was also not fulfilled, and the Shiromani Akali Dal stopped their work for upliftment of Dalits in Punjab.[48][49]

In the 2024 General election the party got a lower vote percentage than the Bharatiya Janata Party; and lower percentage than ever before and radicals received more support and seats.[50] According to most political experts, the reason for the Akali Dal's failure was lack of campaigning and lack of faith in the party.[50] Most supporters of the party state that Manpreet Singh Ayali should be made the Party President and the Jhundan Reforms Committee report should be implemented.

Businesses and Real Estate

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Badal and his family have direct or indirect interests in any array of businesses.[51][52] Badal holds a majority stake in the Punjabi language PTC television network.[53][54] Badal and his family are also major stakeholders in Orbit Aviation, Dabwali Transport, Indo-Canadian Transport Company, Metro Eco Green Resorts, Saanjh Foundation, Falcon Properties, Punjab Animal Breeders, Gurbaz Media, G-Next Media, Rajdhani Express, Azad Hoshiarpur, Taj Travels, PTC Group and Orbit Resorts.[55][56] He has been accused of enriching private transport companies, which he has a stake in, while the state transport department has deteriorated.[57][58] The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort in New Chandigarh is owned by and named after Sukhbir Badal.[59]

He was accused of running Punjab like a Pvt. Limited company instead of a state. Sukhbir Singh Badal's business and Ponty Chadha (supported by Captain Amarinder Singh) were at crosshairs with each other to dominate Punjab's business and industry- after the latter's death it led to Badal's dominance.[60] Bikram Singh Majithia (Badal's brother-in-law) owns Saraya Industries, which has operations in liquor and energy.[60] Badal's other brother-in-law Adesh Pratap Singh Kairon has majority shares in Shivalik Telecom.[60] Deep Malhotra heads the liquor-making Oasis Group and is an ex-Akali Dal MLA.[60] Shiv Lal Doda set up Gagan Wines and was the Akali Dal local leader in Abohar.[60] The stone crushing industry was dominated by Kuldeep Singh Makkar, who is the brother of ex-Akali Dal MLA Sarabjit Singh Makkar.[60] “Out of the 84 luxury bus permits operating in Punjab, at least 52 are with transport companies patronised by the Badals.”[60]

A new cable distribution network—Fastway Transmission Private Ltd— usurped the main three networks Hathway (belonging to Mumbai’s Rahejas), Zee’s Wires & Wireless India Ltd, and Digicable. Fastway too has a Badal connection.[60] Between 2010 and 2015, Jagjit Singh Kohli and Yogesh Shah were directors on Fastway’s board.[60] Their names, incidentally, also show up in the statutory filings of Sukhbir Singh Badal’s two media companies—Gur-Baz Media and G-Next Media.[60] G-Next owns the PTC Group of television channels.[60] In 2014, Gur-Baz owned 99.98% shares in G-Next.[60] Orbit Resorts owned 99.98% shares in Gur-Baz.[60] Sukhbir Badal owned 67.32% of Orbit Resorts.[60] It is unproven but alleged that Badal also indirectly owners a share in parking lots and night clubs in New York, and multiple large farms in the United States of America.[61]

Badal has been complemented by his supporters and opponents that he has a shrewd business acumen; and that if he leaves politics he would be a leading business icon internationally.[62]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Bains, Satinder (31 January 2008). "Sukhbir Badal becomes youngest president of Shiromani Akali Dal". Punjab Newsline. Archived from the original on 28 November 2010. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
  2. ^ PTI (31 January 2022). "Harmeet Singh Kalka quits as SAD Delhi unit president". ThePrint. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  3. ^ "The Badal Business". The Indian Express. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Distinguished Alumni Panjab University". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  5. ^ Badal kids miss mom but happy
  6. ^ Kamal, Neel (8 May 2019). "Sukhbir & Harsimrat's son makes 1st political appearance". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  7. ^ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1999 TO THE 11th LOK SABHA
  8. ^ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 1999 TO THE 12th LOK SABHA
  9. ^ STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTIONS, 2004 TO THE 14th LOK SABHA
  10. ^ Badal Jr. sworn in Deputy CM
  11. ^ Sukhbir Badal quits as Deputy CM
  12. ^ Sukhbir back as Deputy CM
  13. ^ Punjab: SAD-BJP defies anti-incumbency, wins big
  14. ^ Results Punjab State Assembly Elections 2012 Archived 6 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ a b Punjab Cabinet Ministers Portfolios 2012 Archived 3 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ How Sukhbir won the day for SAD
  17. ^ "Jalalabad Election Results 2017: AAP's Bhagwant Mann Loses to SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal". News18. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  18. ^ "Punjab Election Results 2017: List Of Winning Candidates". NDTV.com. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Firozpur Constituency Lok Sabha Election Result: Candidates Profiles, Map, Total Votes, Past Results | Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  20. ^ "Punjab election 2022 result constituency-wise: Check full list of winners". Hindustan Times. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Riding on AAP wave, Kamboj breaches Sukhbir's bastion, defeats SAD chief by 30,374 votes". Hindustan Times. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  22. ^ "Punjab election 2022, Punjab election results 2022, Punjab election winners list, Punjab election 2022 full list of winners, Punjab election winning candidates, Punjab election 2022 winners, Punjab election 2022 winning candidates constituency wise". Financialexpress. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  23. ^ "2015 Kotkapura police firing: Faridkot Court denies relief to Sukhbir Badal, but grants pre-arrest bail to his father". The Indian Express. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  24. ^ "Kotkapura police firing: Sukhbir Badal granted pre-arrest bail, no relief for Sukhbir". Hindustan Times. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  25. ^ a b "SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal detained by Punjab police". The Economic Times. 15 June 2021. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Sukhbir Singh Badal detained during protest outside Capt Amarinder Singh's house in Punjab". India Today. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Sukhbir Singh Badal, Harsimrat Kaur briefly detained over farm laws protest". Hindustan Times. 2 October 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Cases Against 17 Farmer Leaders, Over 200 Others For Protesting At Sukhbir Badal's Rally". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  29. ^ "SAD protests against farm laws, Sukhbir and Harsimrat detained".
  30. ^ a b "SAD leaders briefly detained: Police deploy water cannons to stop Akalis on way to 'debate' SYL with Mann". The Indian Express. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  31. ^ "Shiromani Akali Dal holds protest over 1984 anti-Sikh riots". India Today. 4 November 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  32. ^ "Campaign for release of Bandi Singhs reaches Badal village". The Indian Express. 19 February 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  33. ^ a b "SAD president Sukhbir Badal booked for blocking road". India Today. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  34. ^ "Sukhbir slams Amritpal, his followers". The Times of India. 25 February 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  35. ^ "Akali Dal to provide legal assistance to Sikh youths held in crackdown: Sukhbir Badal". The Indian Express. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  36. ^ a b "Sukhbir reiterates apology at his Panthic unity move in Delhi". The Times of India. 26 December 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  37. ^ "'Sacrilege' and Sukhbir Badal apology: 8 years late, but may be on time for LS polls". The Indian Express. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  38. ^ Livemint (14 December 2023). "'Most painful incident': Sukhbir Singh Badal apologises for 2015 sacrilege cases". mint. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  39. ^ SNS (25 December 2023). "Manjit Singh GK rejoins Akali Dal, 5th Akali leader to come back to its fold". The Statesman. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  40. ^ "Moga molestation: Punjab education minister stirs up controversy, says victim death 'god's will'". DNA India. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  41. ^ Sharma, Sandipan (1 May 2015). "Why spare the bus owners? Punjab molestation case is no different from Uber rape incident". First Post. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  42. ^ Patel, Anand Kumar (4 May 2015). "Punjab Teen Molestation Case: Family Cremates Body As Chief Minister Steps In". NDTV. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
  43. ^ a b c "Can Akali Dal go back to future?". The Times of India. 22 May 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  44. ^ "Implement Jhundan panel suggestions". tribuneindia.com. 9 June 2024.
  45. ^ "Fissures in Akalis after poll debacle, MLA Manpreet Ayali to boycott party activities". tribuneindia.com. 8 June 2024.
  46. ^ "Punjab: SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali from Dakha boycotts presidential poll". The Times of India. 19 July 2022. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  47. ^ "'SAD originally of farmers & workers, not capitalists'". The Times of India. 10 March 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  48. ^ "Akali Dal plans party units in Sikh-populated States in a move towards core 'panthic' agenda". The Hindu. 25 December 2023. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  49. ^ "AAP, BJP may dent Congress, Akali Dal's Dalit, Sikh vote share, predicts exit poll". India Today. 3 June 2024. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  50. ^ a b "Once a partner of BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal ate into its vote share".
  51. ^ "Parkash Singh Badal's business ventures: Top 5 facts to know about Punjab chief minister". Financialexpress. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  52. ^ Rajshekhar, M. (25 March 2016). "Every business in Punjab leads back to an Akali Dal leader (well almost)". Scroll.in. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  53. ^ "Honcho of Badal-owned PTC 'steers' Punjab PR dept's meet with NRI media". Hindustan Times. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  54. ^ "Not on TRP radar, yet govt ad windfall for Badal family channel". Firstpost. 20 January 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  55. ^ Bedi, Hardeep Singh (27 May 2019). "The Rise of Badals and fall of Shiromani Akali Dal". Oneindia. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  56. ^ Malik, Aman (13 May 2014). "The business interests of Harsimrat Kaur Badal". mint. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  57. ^ "How the Badal Family's Roadways Business is Taking Punjab for a Ride". The Wire. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  58. ^ "The Wire: The Wire News India, Latest News,News from India, Politics, External Affairs, Science, Economics, Gender and Culture". thewire.in. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  59. ^ "Chandigarh makes NYT '52 Places to Go' list, with a little help from Sukhbir Badal". ThePrint. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  60. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Almost every business in Punjab leads back to an Akali Dal leader". Quartz. 29 March 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  61. ^ "Parkash Singh Badal unhappy with the media". India Today. 19 November 2001. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  62. ^ Subramanian, N. Sundaresha. "Decoding the Badals' business empire". Rediff. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
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