Akalis abandoned their ideals: Amritpal’s father

The Shiromani Akali Dal has “abandoned” its principles and failed to protect the Sikh and Punjabi identity during its decade-long rule from 2007-17 in the state, alleged Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh on Saturday.

The jailed leader’s father made the statement days before the MP’s backers are set to launch a political party — Shiromani Akali Dal (Anandpur Sahib) — during a Maghi Mela conference in Muktsar.

The move is being seen as an attempt to grab the Panthic space from the state’s former ruling party, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), which has seen a decline in popularity among Sikh voters following a string of cases involving the desecration of religious texts during its regime.

Tarsem Singh alleged that traditional parties like the Congress and SAD lost people’s trust over the years, leading to the rise of the Aam Aadmi Party, which he said has “betrayed” Punjabis by not sticking to its pre-poll promises.

“This betrayal has highlighted an urgent need for a regional party in the state,” he added.

Tarsem Singh also questioned Amritpal’s continued imprisonment under the stringent National Security Act.

He claimed that “certain forces” are afraid of his son’s influence and “deliberately registering false cases against him to prevent his release”.