SAD expels Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa for indulging in ‘anti-party’ activities

Chandigarh, August 1

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) disciplinary committee on Thursday expelled party Patron Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa from the primary membership of the SAD for “indulging in anti-party activities” including taking on the leadership of expelled leaders.

A decision to this effect was taken unanimously by a three-member party disciplinary committee which was presided over by its Chairman Balwinder Singh Bhunder and included both the other two members – Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Gulzar Singh Ranike.

Briefing mediapersons about the decision, Maheshinder Grewal said, “The committee was of the opinion that Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was not upholding the honour of his post. He was not only issuing unauthorised statements but was also acting against the party’s constitution and its rich and glorious traditions.”

He said the disciplinary committee also took into account the various statements issued by Dhindsa in the recent past as well as the manner in which he took on the leadership of the eight expelled party leaders yesterday.

Disciplinary committee chairman Balwinder Singh Bhunder said Dhindsa had forced the party to take this action. He said the party on its part had invited all disgruntled party leaders to attend party meetings and discuss their misgivings in the party forum. “Instead of doing this the disgruntled leaders became part of a conspiracy scripted in Nagpur to weaken and divide the party. When action was taken against them Dhindsa sought to come to the rescue of the leaders and even tried to mislead the party cadre by asserting he had overruled the same. Now the party has taken definite action against Dhindsa to set the record straight.”