AMRITSAR, Aug. 15 -- Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj on Thursday slammed the formation of a separate faction of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), saying that it is not in full accordance with the December 2, 2024 decree of the highest Sikh temporal seat. Interacting with media on the sidelines of an event, 'Ardas Divas', organised at Khalsa College here, Giani Gargaj said the basic point of the December 2 decree was that all the factions should bury the hatchet and unite in the larger interest of the panth. "I would like to make it clear that this is not the battle of the panth, but that of factions. Akal Takht belongs to every faction. The December 2 decree asked for unity in the Akali factions. This decree hasn't been obeyed in totality?" Giani Gargaj said. Taking aim at Giani Harpreet Singh, who was unanimously elected as the president of the breakaway faction on August 11, Giani Gargaj said ethically an ex-jathedar shouldn't have become the leader of a political outfit. "Ethically, he should not have become president. Because the title of Singh Sahib is higher. He should have worked for the unity of the panth and helped in tackling the issues being faced by the community," he said. Giani Gargaj said that the need of the hour is to unite the community and not create division. "I again reiterate that we should get together for the larger interests of the panth. The qaum (community) is facing attacks from all directions. Unity is the need of the hour. This is not the hour of keeping separate factions," he added....