Akalis discuss ways to win back Panthic voters

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will celebrate its 98th Sthapana Divas by organising bhog of ‘akhand path’ at historic gurdwaras in all Assembly constituencies of the state on December 14.

A meeting of the core committee of the party was held here today. It decided that the party would participate in ‘nagar kirtan’ to be organised by the SGPC as part of the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak in which religious marches would start from three religious takhts of the Khalsa Panth. These marches will converge on the historic shrine at Sultanpur Lodhi.

Though the agenda items discussed today were mainly on party’s bid to win back the Panthic vote base, sources said the political programme for the next three to four months was also discussed. With the general elections just a few months away, the meeting discussed all political programmes that the party intends to undertake.

The meeting was presided over by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party decided to stand by the beleaguered farmers who have been “cheated by the state government with fake promises” on the payment of sugarcane dues.

The committee demanded immediate release of DA allowance to government employees. The members welcomed the initiative taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to build the Kartarpur Corridor.

The party lauded the life-long struggle by Jathedar Kuldip Singh Wadala for getting the corridor opened.