SAD to observe Parkash Badal’s birth anniversary as ‘Sadbhawna Divas’

The Shiromani Akali Dal will observe the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal as ‘Sadbhawna Divas’ on December 8 at Badal village here.

A memorial to the former CM, featuring a larger than life statue, will also be inaugurated on the occasion.

The memorial has been constructed on nearly two acres of the Badal family’s kinnow orchard, located adjacent to the Civil Hospital on the Bathinda-Kheowali road, where the party patriarch was cremated in April 2023.

The sculpture crafted by Chandigarh-based artist Gurpreet Dhuri has already been installed.

The event is being seen as a show of strength by the party, which is striving hard to make a comeback in the state, especially after securing the second spot in the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll held last month.

All senior leaders, SGPC members invited

Party president Sukhbir Badal has invited for the event all senior party functionaries, including members of the core committee, district chiefs and members of the SAD-controlled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), with their supporters.

Chautala family may also join

Sources said members of the Chautala family of Haryana, which has close ties with the Badals, may also attend the programme.

On the former CM's second death anniversary on April 25 this year, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) had announced to set up a skill centre named after him at Badal village.

The project has reportedly been held up due to the NSDC’s delayed restructuring and allegations of irregularities projects across the country.