‘SAD can’t contest SGPC polls’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 18

Office-bearers of the Socialist Party India on Thursday said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) couldn’t contest the elections of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) due to a Constitutional hitch. Addressing a press conference, Balwant Singh Khera, president of the Socialist Party India, said, “In 1996, the SAD held a rally in Moga and announced that it was no more a religious party, but it did not amend its constitution.”

Khera said that the SAD had formed a constitution amendment committee on March 3, 2000 and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura was its president. The committee filed the proceeding that as per the new circumstances, the party needed a secular constitution on May 6, 2004. After nod of the members, the party sent the new constitution to the EIC on February 2, 2008.

Khera alleged that the SAD violated its self-declaration affidavit from 1989 to 2008. The case is sub judice. “After changing the constitution, now SAD can’t contest the SGPC elections as it is clearly mentioned in the Gurdwara Act that only a religious party can contest the elections. The SAD stands disqualified," he added.