Chandigarh, December 6
Unruffled by the verdicts of the Supreme Court and the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the SAD will go ahead with an unprecedented birthday bash of its supremo Parkash Singh Badal at Moga on Friday.

The Congress, which is organising a rally at Lambi village on the same day, however, has no plans to either distribute snacks or hold langar for its workers. “We do not do such things to get people at our rallies. We had nothing of the sort at our massive Ludhiana rally,” adds a Congress leader.

“Since it is a rally to felicitate Mr Badal on his birthday, we are organising a mass feast,” admits Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, SAD MP from Ludhiana. “Even otherwise, concept of langar and community kitchen is an integral part of Punjabi way of life.”

“The apex court verdict is in our favour. There is nothing to feel the other way,” adds Mr Dhillon.

Truck loads of samosas, bread pakoras, bananas and apples will start arriving in Moga from tomorrow, says Mr Dhillon, revealing that sants of Lopowale and Pehowawale and their supporters will be running round the clock kitchen for rallyists at the venue.

Besides, five lakh food packets to be contributed by different deras will be distributed in villages around Moga, where five lakh paper bags for packing food have been distributed.

Youth Akali Dal will contribute five truckloads of samosas, two truckloads each of bread pakoras, bananas and apples for the rally where Mr Badal will be felicitated. Tea and water will be served in disposable glasses, says Mr Dhillon.

All stuff for the rally will be prepared or procured from different places like Moga, Faridkot, Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepore, Ludhiana and Jalandhar. Mr Dhillon says the Youth Akali Dal workers will clean up the litter afterwards.

Each participant would be handed the foodstuff entering the pandal while those keen on langar and tea will have to go to special counters.

When asked as to who will foot the bill for the massive treat, Mr Dhillon says, “Money is no consideration since the party is convinced of victory”.

The rally will be organised on a 100 acre piece of land and as many as 500 private security guards have been hired in addition to the police deployment. All Akali MLAs are spending from their own pockets, adds Mr Dhillon.

There will be four different podiums. The main one will be 12 ft high and will be for VVIPs, including Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, Mr Rajnath Singh, Mr Arun Jaitley, Mr I.K. Gujral, and Dr Farooq Abdullah. A special lift has been arranged for Mr Vajpayee. Other three podiums will be for MLAs, SGPC members, SAD office-bearers and the mediapersons.

A separate 100 acre parking space has been provided on three sides of the main podium. VVIPs will be able to drive directly to the back side of the stage. There is also a helipad near the main podium.

All these arrangements have been made in accordance with the instructions given by the head of the National Security Guards (NSG) team that visited the venue, says Mr Dhillon.

“Preparations on the venue started a fortnight back under the direct supervision of Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. I am monitoring on daily basis. Hot air balloons have been in air since December 4 in all major cities, including Patiala as well as Badal and Lambi villages, asking people to join the rally. Traditional Dhadi and Kavishar will entertain the public till the leaders start their speeches. No folk singers are invited,” Mr Dhillon adds.