Detractors pledge to join hands to ‘overthrow’ Badals : The Tribune India

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Detractors pledge to join hands to ‘overthrow’ Badals

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 14

Expressing need for second ‘Gurdwara Sudhar Lehar’ to free Sikh shrines and institutions, detractors of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his family announced to work together for the cause.

At a separate event organised to mark the foundation day of SAD, Bagh Singh Ankhi, former honorary secretary of Chief Khalsa Diwan, said, “Even Abdali (Ahmed Shah) could not do what Badals have done.”

We had won last gurdwara elections in Delhi as we had avoided putting pictures of the Badal family on campaign material. Candidates backed by Badals in the next gurdwara elections will be shown the door.

Manjit Singh GK, former dsgmc president

Former SGPC general secretary Sukhdev Singh Bhaur accused Badal family of looting the Panth. “All charitable and educational trusts of the community are under the control of Badals,” he said.

SAD (Delhi) president and two-time DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna urged all factions to join them in performing “ardas” at Nankana Sahib Gurdwara to “free gurdwaras from present day mahants”.

Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa claimed that under the Badals, dissent in SAD was not tolerated. “We will remain in the SAD, but it will not be the same Akali Dal. If will be reformed,” he said stressing at the need to yield control of the SGPC and SAD from the Badal family.

Ravi Inder Singh of SAD (1920) urged all factions to unite under “one party, one president and one constitution”. He accused the senior Badal of violating party’s constitution on many occasions. Dhindsa proposed that SGPC members would not be allowed to seek positions in party and they would have to be religious.

We will remain in SAD, but it will not be the same Akali Dal. It will be reformed. We will restore the glory of Sikh institutions. I will not contest any elections in future and dedicate my strength to revive the grand old party.

Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, rajya sabha member

Dhindsa said there had been efforts to overthrow the Badals earlier too, but all failed as motives were solely political and not religious, as was the case now. The event also witnessed honouring of family members of martyrs of various political and religious movements. All senior leaders preferred to sit among audience as the stage was reserved for family members of martyrs.

Former MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura also criticised Badals and urged workers to work for the restoration of the party. The leaders later passed several resolutions demanding more rights for states, Chandigarh for Punjab and punishment for accused in all desecration cases.

Those who were present included former MPs Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Rattan Singh Ajnala, former minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and ex-MLA Amarpal Singh Boney.