SAD membership drive bogus, they can’t induct 35-lakh members, alleges Giani Harpreet Singh

Raising questions over the membership drive underway by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Giani Harpreet Singh said that ‘bogus’ members were being inducted into the party.

Giani Harpreet Singh, who was recently expelled from the services of the jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), also hinted at joining politics.

He said that though he had no political aspirations, he would not hesitate to try his hand on the political pitch, if the need arose.

"I am a student of religion thoroughly. But if the ‘Bhagora Dal’ (referring to SAD not complying with Akal Takht directives) compelled me to come on the political pitch, I would have no hassles,” he said while talking to a section of media persons on social media.

Taking cognisance of the Akal Takht-formed seven-member committee’s meeting that was held on February 13 without any ‘conclusion’, he pointed out that the SAD working president Balwinder Singh Bhunder, who was supposed to attend the meeting, never bothered to acknowledge the invitation.

“Ignoring the authority of the Akal Takht constituted committee proves that ‘Akai Dal’ has now become ‘Bhagora Dal’ from the directives of the Akal Takht,” he said. On the membership drive row, he refuted the SAD claims, saying, “When all SAD leaders were together, including the lot which got separated under the ‘SAD Sudhar Lehar’ banner, the total of just 18 lakh votes were polled in favour of SAD in the Lok Sabha elections. How could the SAD claim to have inducted 35 lakh members? This all appeared to be a bogus exercise,” he said.

He recalled that the SAD has lost its ground politically in present times.

“SAD’s origin was constituted keeping in mind the Sikh politics with ethics. This was the regional party which used to set examples for other state regional parties to follow. With the passage of time, it has lost its principles. For the past 20-25 years, the SAD has lost the ‘ethics’. It is a conflict between the ‘Gurmukh’ and the ‘Manmukh’. The leaders who were dedicated to ‘Baani (hyms) and fought for the sake of the Panth were sidelined and replaced with those who indulged in drug paddling, sand mining, and other profit-enthusiast traders; the ‘ethics’ were oblivion,” he said.