Former Army chief General J J Singh has resigned from Shiromani Akali Dal citing personal reasons. He tendered his resignation today.
Addressing his resignation letter to the Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, he wrote that he was resigning with immediate effect due to personal reasons. “I wish to inform you with a heavy heart that I have resigned from Shiromani Akali Dal and from the position of president of Shiromani Akali Dal, Ex-Servicemen wing with immediate effect due to personal reasons,” he wrote.
Singh, who was the first Sikh to become Army Chief, has also served as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. He joined the Akali Dal in 2017 during the Punjab Assembly elections and had unsuccessfully contested against Captain Amarinder Singh from Patiala Assembly constituency. He had served as 22nd Chief of Indian Army (Jan 31, 2005, to Sept 30, 2007). He is a veteran of the 1965 and the 1971 wars. He had also participated in the Kargil war.
He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy. He has been decorated with various military honours including Param Vishisht Seva Medal (PVSM), Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM), Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM). Singh, a keen mountaineer has also trained under the famous Nepali-Indian mountaineer Tenzing Norgay also known as Sherpa Tenzing at the Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling.
Singh wants to keep serving the people in future as well. “I want to serve the people and the country,” he told the media. He has also stated that he is keeping his political options open.