Manpreet Badal, Sucha Singh Langah appear at Akal Takht

In compliance with the Akal Takht directions, former SAD ministers Manpreet Badal and Sucha Singh Langah appeared at Akal Takht on Friday and submitted their separate explanations to explain their stance on being part of the cabinet when some contentious decisions were taken.

Before them, a few other leaders who were ministers during the SAD-BJP government from 2007 to 2017 had appeared before the five high priests.

Badal was the Finance Minister from 2007 to 2010. He was removed from the post following differences with party leaders over the debt-waiver offer by the Centre. He was expelled from the SAD in October 2010. Langah was the Agriculture Minister from 2007 to 2012. While Badal did not talk to the press today, Langah said he had come to abide by the directions of Akal Takht to submit his clarification in writing.

On August 30, the Akal Takht had pronounced Sukhbir Badal “tankhaiya”, holding him guilty of religious misconduct, and directed 17 other former Sikh ministers to explain their position on several decisions made by the Akali government within 15 days.

Meanwhile, the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) has urged the Akal Takht Jathedar to also summon political leaders of other parties allied to Sirsa’s Dera Sacha Sauda.

AISSF patron Karnail Singh Peermohammad and president Parminder Singh Dhingra have submitted a list to the Jathedar with names of leaders who ought to be summoned to Akal Takht.

The list includes former CMs Capt Amarinder Singh and Bibi Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, as well as current Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Raja Warring, Congress MP from Fatehgarh Sahib Dr Amar Singh, former ministers Darshan Singh Brar, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, ex-Deputy Speaker Ajaib Singh Bhatti.