SAD slams discussion on appointment of Jathedars

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday accused its estranged legislator Manpreet Singh Ayali of “aligning with” Minister Harjot Bains to seek interference of the Vidhan Sabha in framing rules and regulations for the appointment of the Akal Takht Jathedar.

This was the first direct attack on Ayali by SAD. Ayali is part of the Akal Takht panel for conducting a SAD membership drive, a move already rejected by the party, which had initiated its own drive overlooking a religious edict. Ayali had been demanding a change in the party leadership for more than two years now.

Addressing a press conference, SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema alleged that Ayali and rebel Akali leaders are only using the name of the Akal Takht for their political ends. “On one hand, they are conducting a membership drive in the name of the Akal Takht, on the other, they are discussing creating regulations for the appointment of the Jathedar of the Akal Takht,” he said.

He also asked rebel Akali leaders, who are part of the Takht-constituted panel, to make their stand clear on this issue. Cheema also slammed Bains for trying to initiate a discussion on the issue. The SAD leader asserted that Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan should have stopped the discussion. “Will the Speaker allow issues of other religions to be taken up for discussion in the Vidhan Sabha?” he asked.