Jolt to SAD in Fatehgarh Sahib as ex-minister's family revolt
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) got a jolt with the revolt of the Taksali Akali family of former minister Randhir Singh Cheema, his son Jagdeep Singh Cheema, who is the halka incharge of Fatehgarh Sahib and his grandson Gurjeet Singh Talwandi, who is the national general secretary of the party. They have refused to be associated with the membership drive launched by the SAD, terming it against the directive of the Akal Takht.
While Cheema did not turn up at the launch of the membership drive, Talwandi issued a press statement asking the party to dissuade from initiating the drive and toe the Akal Takht's line. Reacting to the statement, the district unit of SAD expelled Talwandi from the party. Talwandi hit back at the party by called it "a group of sycophants". He said since he was the national general secretary, the district unit had no power to expel him. He added that whoever revolted against the Takht had to eat a humble pie and the leadership of SAD had learnt no lesson from history.
Meanwhile, SAD general secretary Gurpreet Singh Raju, Youth Akali Dal national president Sarabjit Singh Jhinjhar and district president Sharanjit Singh Chanarthal said the party had set a target to enroll 1.25 lakh members from the district. They said there was great enthusiasm among the youth to become the members of 104-year-old regional party as they were disgusted with the performance of the AAP government and the Congress. They said it was only SAD which was fighting for the cause and prosperity of Punjab.