‘Selective’ expulsions raise many an eyebrow

Deepkamal Kaur
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, July 31
After the Shiromani Akali Dal issued orders to expel eight leaders of the rebel group yesterday, questions are being raised why the remaining nearly 30 leaders, who are also part of the same group, have been spared.
Those spared included former MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, former minister Sarwan Singh Phillaur, core committee members Bhai Manjit Singh and Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, former MLA Gaganjit Singh Barnala, SGPC members Karnail S Panjoli, Paramjit Kaur Landran, Kiranjot Kaur and Balbir S Ghunas, and party leaders Harinder Pal Singh Tohra, Harjit Kaur Talwandi and Sucha Singh Chhotepur.
Jagir Kaur has reacted to selective expulsion saying: “Had the SAD removed all of us, the party would have lost significant leadership. Since the eight of us were leading the group, action came against us. It clearly meant attacking the leaders so that our campaign could get derailed and those with us could rethink on their decision and even revert. But their plans won’t be successful. They removed us without giving us any hearing and the message has not gone across well.”
However, those siding with Sukhbir Badal have maintained that only the ‘architects’ of the plan had been removed. “The party did not want to give undue importance to the rest of the people by expelling them,” said a SAD leader.
Countering Jagir Kaur’s version, Sukhbir loyalist Mahesh Inder Grewal said: “It was a case of exceptional indiscipline. The group was seeking removal of party president Sukhbir Badal. Our party kept on tolerating all their statements going to media, but it was felt that setting up a 13-member presidium could not be tolerated. It implies that they have created a parallel system against a legally constituted set up. Jagir Kaur has been saying that Sukhbir was not letting the party grow. Now that they have all become independent of him, we want to see how their group flourishes.”