SAD warns leaders against indiscipline

The crisis in the SAD over the removal of the jatehdars of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib deepened today with the party’s working president, Balwinder Singh Bhunder, stating that indiscipline “will not be tolerated at any cost”.

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Bhunder’s statement came a day after several senior party leaders and former ministers, including Sukhbir Singh Badal’s brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia, condemned the SGPC interim committee’s decision of removing the two jathedars on March 7.

Though he did not name any leader, Bhunder, after participating in the party’s parliamentary board meeting, said, “No one is above the party. Everyone is free to express his views at the party forum but no one can be allowed to violate the party discipline. All such anti-party statements and videos are being referred to the party’s disciplinary committee and show-cause notices will be issued to those who have spoken against the decisions of the SGPC and the SAD. Action will be taken on merit after consideration of their replies.”

The meeting was attended by Gulzar Singh Ranike, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, Heera Singh Gabria and Daljit Singh Cheema.

Yesterday, Bhunder had stated that Majithia’s statement amounted to backstabbing the Badal family, especially Sukhbir who stood by Majithia in his bad times (referring to the drug case against him). Sukhbir has so far not reacted to the new development.

The revolt in the Sukhbir camp of the party had been brewing up since March 7 over the removal of the jathedars. Later, several senior leaders and former ministers condemned the SGPC interim committee’s decision with some leaders of the district units of the party in Punjab and Haryana resigning in protest.

Political analysts feel that amid the existential crisis in the party, Sukhbir faces a major challenge of retaining control over the SGPC, which remains without a president following Harjinder Singh Dhami’s resignation amid the ongoing crisis.

Even as Bhunder warned of action against those speaking against the SAD and the SGPC, leaders of the district units of the party, including in Fatehgarh Sahib and Kharar, today revolted against the removal of the two jathedars.