Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Overview and Origin

According to the Political Handbook of the World 2022-2023, Shiromani Akali Dal (Mann) or the SAD(M) is "also frequently referenced as the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)" and was formed in the mid-1990s by Simranjit Singh Mann, whom the Handbook describes as a "radical" (Political Handbook of the World 2023, 63). Sources indicate that Mann, a former police officer, is the leader of SAD(A) (Emeritus Professor 2025-04-07; PTI 2024-08-29; The Hindu 2022-06-27).

In an interview with the Research Directorate, an Emeritus Professor of economics at a university in the UK whose research focuses on Indian politics, economics and human rights, with special reference to Punjab, indicated that the SAD(A) is mainly present in Punjab; it was created by Mann, along with a number of Sikh "militan[cy]" supporters, to be "distinc[t]" from other Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) factions, and especially from the SAD (Badal) (Emeritus Professor 2025-04-07). For additional information on the SAD (Badal) or SAD(B), see Response to Information Request IND202272 of April 2025.

The information in the following 2 paragraphs was provided by an associate professor at Hiram College in Ohio, who specializes in the politics of India and has conducted research on the SAD, in an interview with the Research Directorate:

The original SAD party was created in 1920 as a Sikh-based party to represent Sikh identity and community, and remained united until the 1970s. In the 1980s, the SAD "peaceful[ly]" protested for increased rights for Sikhs in Punjab. In 1984, the government ordered a raid called Operation Blue Star on the "holy" Golden Temple Complex, where "Sikh moderates and radicals" were located; the operation resulted in the killing of "several hundred" Sikhs. Following Operation Blue Star, the SAD was divided into several factions with different leaders competing to represent the "alienated" Sikh community; an "armed separatist movement" demanding the creation of Khalistan [1] also emerged. In 1989, Mann established his faction, the SAD(M), which was considered to be the "political voice" of the armed separatists, even if Mann himself did not "openly" call for the creation of Khalistan at the time.

The Amritsar Declaration of 1994 – which called on Sikhs to exercise "self-determination" to establish a separate country unless the government agreed to "increased federalism and formation of a confederal India" – was signed by different SAD factions, including the SAD(M). All of the factions that signed the Declaration later backed out, except for the SAD(M); thus, the faction became also known as the SAD(Amritsar), or SAD(A) (Associate Professor 2025-04-16).

1.1 Structure and Leadership

Sources indicate that the SAD(A) also has a youth wing (Kashmir Despatch 2022-08-05; Zee News 2022-07-27; SAD(A) n.d.), and a "[l]ady [w]ing" (SAD(A) n.d.).

On its website, the SAD(A) lists the following individuals in various leadership roles:

• President: Simranjit Singh Mann
• Vice President: Furkan Kureshi, alias Babblu Kureshi; Harjinder Singh Jakhu
• Personal Secretary: Gurjant Singh Kattu
• Chief Spokesman, Political and Media Advisor: Iqbal Singh Tiwana
• Youth Wing: Emaan Singh Mann Sarpraste
• "Lady Wing" President: Bibi Rajinder Kaur Jaito (SAD(A) n.d.).
  
  

According to the Emeritus Professor, the party has units that extend to the district and "lower" levels (2025-04-07). Similarly, the Associate Professor indicated that the SAD(A) has an organizational structure that goes down to the district and local levels (2025-04-16). A list of individuals in various SAD(A) roles, including executive members, as well as state and district leaders, is available on the SAD(A) website (SAD(A) n.d.).

1.2 Objectives and Activities

Sources indicate that Mann "open[ly]" supports the creation of Khalistan (Emeritus Professor 2025-04-07; The Hindu 2024-05-31), but through "peaceful" means (Emeritus Professor 2025-04-07). According to the Associate Professor, since the government did not agree to the demands in the 1994 Amritsar Declaration, the SAD(A) has called for the creation of Khalistan, through peaceful and democratic means (2025-04-16). Sources note that every year on 6 June, the anniversary of Operation Blue Star, Mann and his supporters assemble at the Golden Temple and chant "pro-Khalistan" slogans (India.com 2022-06-26; ThePrint 2022-06-29).

Sources describe Mann as a "radical" (India Today 2022-06-27; ThePrint 2023-04-14; The Caravan 2022-06-26), who is on the "extreme right" (The Caravan 2022-06-26).

According to the Emeritus Professor, the SAD(A) is "not very active," and mainly focuses on Mann winning elections (2025-04-07). According to the Associate Professor, the SAD(A) is registered with the Election Commission of India and has established a political structure in Punjab, but the party does not receive "a lot" of votes except for Mann, who wins "periodically" (2025-04-16). Sources indicate that Mann was elected as a Member of the Parliament in 1989, 1999, and 2022 (Associate Professor 2025-04-16; The Times of India 2022-06-26). According to the Associate Professor, SAD(A) activities include participating in electoral politics and campaigns, holding rallies on Sikh religious holidays, sponsoring or participating in seminars, and engaging with the media (2025-04-16).

2. Membership

Information on SAD(A) membership, including membership cards, was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

According to the Emeritus Professor, it is not clear if supporting the creation of Khalistan is a requirement to join the party (2025-04-07). The same source noted that "in general" the basic requirements for party membership include: belief in the Sikh religion, acceptance of the Sikh scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, and adherence to the "political policies of the party" (Emeritus Professor 2025-04-07).

According to the Associate Professor, it is not clear if SAD(A) issues membership cards (2025-04-16).

3. Treatment by Authorities

According to the Emeritus Professor, since members and supporters of SAD(A) "openly" support the creation of Khalistan, they may be viewed "suspiciously by the police in Punjab and central intelligence agencies" (2025-04-07). The Associate Professor noted that being a member of SAD(A) "does not automatically mean targeting by the state" (2025-04-16).

The Emeritus Professor stated that members and supporters of the party are "often arrested by the authorities for questioning" (2025-04-07). According to the Associate Professor, authorities "often" arrest leaders and members of the party who are supporters of Khalistan, including Mann himself, whenever there is political instability in Punjab (2025-04-16).

The Emeritus Professor indicated that "[s]ome" SAD(A) supporters and members "have suffered torture and other forms of harsh treatment by security forces" (2025-04-07). The Associate Professor stated that there can be "physical abuse" while in custody (2025-04-16).

According to the Times of India, at an April 2025 conference organized by SAD(A), Mann accused the Indian government of "maltreatment" of Sikhs, and accused its central agencies of involvement in a conspiracy that "killed" Sikhs abroad (2025-04-14).

Media sources indicate that the SAD(A) president called on its supporters to stage a protest, following the arrest of a social media influencer, by blocking train traffic in Dhuri town in Punjab on 1 February 2024 (The Indian Express 2024-02-03; The Times of India 2024-02-02). Sources note that on the day of the protest, the police detained "several" SAD(A) party workers (The Indian Express 2024-02-03) or a "large number" of SAD(A) supporters (The Times of India 2024-02-02) or "hundreds of activists of the SAD (Amritsar) from different parts" of Dhuri district (The Tribune 2024-02-02). In interviews with the Times of India, an English-language newspaper, the police in Fatehgarh Sahib district, where Mann's house is located, denied detaining his supporters, while the police in Dhuri district stated that they "'detained some people'," and estimated that "'the number may be less than 100'," but could not provide the exact number (The Times of India 2024-02-02). Sources note that there are reports that Mann was placed under house arrest (The Times of India 2024-02-02; The Indian Express 2024-02-03); however, the Fatehgarh Sahib police denied this (The Times of India 2024-02-02). Further information on this protest, including the treatment of SAD(A) protesters, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] Khalistan is an independent Sikh state that a "small number" of Sikh "separatist[s]" support creating (Australia 2023-09-29, para. 3.95).

References

Associate Professor, Hiram College, USA. 2025-04-16. Interview with the Research Directorate.

Australia. 2023-09-29. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). DFAT Country Information Report: India. [Accessed 2025-04-14]

The Caravan. 2022-06-26. Hartosh Singh Bal. "Losing the Way." [Accessed 2025-04-29]

Emeritus Professor, university in the UK. 2025-04-07. Interview with the Research Directorate.

The Hindu. 2024-05-31. Samridhi Tewari. "Simranjit Singh Mann, the Hard-line MP with a Soft Corner for Bhindranwale." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

The Hindu. 2022-06-27. Vikas Vasudeva. "With Sangrur Bypoll Win, Simranjit Singh Mann Makes a Comeback." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

India.com. 2022-06-26. "Who Is Smiranjit Singh Mann, the Khalistan Advocate Who Won Sangrur Lok Sabha By-Poll." [Accessed 2025-04-30]

The Indian Express. 2024-02-03. Raakhi Jaaga. "Bhana Sidhu Release: SAD (A) Chief Simranjit Singh Mann Under House Arrest." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

India Today. 2022-06-27. Anilesh S. Mahajan. "Who Is Simranjit Singh Mann?" [Accessed 2025-04-14]

Kashmir Despatch. 2022-08-05. "Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) Forms New Body of SAD(A) in J&K." [Accessed 2025-04-15]

Political Handbook of the World 2022-2023. 2023. "Republic of India." Edited by Tom Lansford. Thousand Oaks: CQ Press. [Accessed 2025-03-19]

Press Trust of India (PTI). 2024-08-29. "SAD (Amritsar) President Simranjit Mann Makes Derogatory Comments on Kangana Ranaut." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

ThePrint. 2023-04-14. Sonal Matharu. "'Amritpal Blown Out of Context, Sikhs Are Whipping Boys' — Radical MP Simranjit Mann on State of Punjab." [Accessed 2025-04-29]

ThePrint. 2022-06-29. Abhishek Dey. "What Comeback of Simranjit Singh Mann, a Vocal Khalistan Advocate, Means for Punjab Politics." [Accessed 2025-04-30]

Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar (SAD(A)). N.d. "Contact Us." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

The Times of India. 2025-04-14. Neel Kamal. "New Akali Group Makes 'Amritpal Singh for CM' Pitch." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

The Times of India. 2024-02-02. Bharat Khanna. "Sangrur MP Placed Under 'House Arrest'." [Accessed 2025-04-29]

The Times of India. 2022-06-26. "Simranjit Singh Mann: All You Need to Know About the Man Who Beat AAP and Won Sangrur LS Seat." [Accessed 2025-04-22]

The Tribune. 2024-02-02. "Bhana Sidhu Case: Cops Thwart 'Rail Roko' at Dhuri." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

Zee News. 2022-07-27. Ravinder Singh Robin. "Youth Wing of Simranjit Singh Mann-Led SAD(A) Stirs Controversy." [Accessed 2025-04-14]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Assistant professor at a university in Canada whose research covers political parties in India; associate professor at a university in New Zealand who specializes in domestic politics in India; associate professor at a university in the US whose research focuses on political parties and elections in the developing world, particularly India; emeritus professor at a university in Canada who specializes in Indian politics; emeritus professor at a university in the UK who specializes in Indian politics; professor at a university in Canada who specializes in Indian politics; professor at a university in the UK whose research focuses on democracy in India; professor at a university in the UK whose research focuses on politics of modern India; professor at a university in the US who researches party politics and the politics of South Asia; professor at a university in the US who specializes in Hindu nationalism and who has published a book on Indian politics; professor at a university in the US whose research focuses on political parties in India; professor at a university in the US whose research focuses on political parties in South Asia.

Internet sites, including: Amnesty International; Associated Press; BBC; CNN; Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Council on Foreign Relations; Deccan Herald; The Diplomat; The Economic Times; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; Minority Rights Group International; National Herald; Sikh Coalition; Sikh Siyasat News; Taylor & Francis Online; UK – Home Office; UN – Refworld; United News India; US – CIA The World Factbook, Department of Justice.