Amarinder, Walia quit SAD

Tribune News Service

PATIALA, Jan 18  

Senior Akali leader Capt Amarinder Singh, vice-president and former M P, Mr Charanjit Singh Walia, a former minister, Mr Randhir Singh Cheema and Mr Manjinder Singh Behla and as many as seven former MLAs, including Dr Satwant Singh Mohi, Giani Arjun Singh Litt and Mr Jasmel Singh Nathana today quit the SAD alleging that party had been reduced to sons-in-law outfit.

Addressing a press conference at his new Moti Bagh Palace, Capt Amarinder Singh, flanked by Mr Walia and several other leaders, said that Mr Badal and Mr Tohra behaved like "dictators" in the matter of allocation of ticket denying the ticket to those party activists who most deserved it on the basis of sacrifices made by them, for their relatives.

Capt Amarinder Singh said that he would announce his future intensions, whether he would form any political party or do something else, in the coming days and after holding consultations with leaders of his group. As far as elections to the Vidhan Sabha were concerned, he would not contest.

Capt Amarinder Singh said that when as many as 28 MLAs quit Mr Surjit Singh Barnala's government at Mr Badal's behest, he in 1987 Mr Badal and Mr Tohra had made a commitment that all those who quit then would be given first preference when the SAD contested the elections next.