SAD leadership stands in support of Kolianwali: Badal

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Malout, December 12

Former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday made it clear that SAD was standing rock solid in support of senior party leader Dyal Singh Kolianwali, who has been booked in a disproportionate assets case, evading arrest.

Badal, accompanied by senior leaders of the party’s Muktsar district unit, addressed party workers at Kolianwali’s residence on Tuesday. He said the case registered by the State Vigilance Bureau was false and created out of political vendetta.

Earlier, there were rumours that Kolianwali was sidelined by the Badal family after the court did not give him relief after the interim bail.

Some Akalis had even said Kolianwali was requesting SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to save him in the case, but the latter was not bothering much.

However, the visit of elderly Badal, who has backache and advised bed rest by doctors, has proven all these rumours false.

Addressing the gathering of nearly 500-700 Akalis, Badal said, “I have come here to tell you all that Dyal Singh is a respected party leader, who has worked hard to strengthen SAD. He was booked in a criminal case during the previous Congress government, but came out clean and the FIR was also cancelled. Further, just before the state polls in 2012, during an Income Tax search, some powder seized from jathedar’s (Dyal Singh) residence was shown as poppy husk. However, during the laboratory testing, nothing wrong came out. These are all attempts of the Congress to weaken the Akalis by lodging false cases. You should not lose heart by such cases.”

Badal also said Dyal Singh would soon surrender in this case.

He also appealed to Dyal Singh’s son Parminder Singh to work hard for the party in the coming panchayat elections.

“The Sarawan area has always given me huge lead in the Assembly elections. Even you people won the Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad elections and that too in the absence of leader Dyal Singh. I am thankful to all of you for working fearlessly and tirelessly for the party. Even this time, we have to win the election. Now, decide your candidates at the village level. Still if you face any problem then come to me at my residence without any hesitation. I am here at Badal village till the elections,” said Badal.

It is to mention that the vigilance sleuths have started the process to declare Kolianwali a proclaimed offender.

Kolianwali holds much significance as he has remained on various positions during the previous SAD-BJP government, considered a trusted aide of Badals.

Presently, an SGPC member, Kolianwali is a former member of the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board (PSSSB), former chairman of Punjab Agro Foodgrains Corporation and former president of the SAD’s Muktsar district unit. Besides, he looks after 17 villages of VVIP Lambi Assembly segment on behalf of Parkash Singh Badal.

If sources are to be believed, Kolianwali may surrender before December 15.