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Editorial

Senior SAD leaders of Punjab line up against Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majithia

September 30, 2018 11:09 PM

By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: A revolt is brewing up in Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD) and Taksali leaders of party from Malwa and Majha region are lining up to challenge leadership of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal and to strip Bikram Singh Majithia who claims to be 'Jarnail' (leader) of Majha region. The recent developments in the party are really a reason to worry for Parkash Singh Badal who put at stake interests of Punjab and party to promote his son over and abiove the senior leaders.

The resignation of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa from all party posts is first big jolt for the Badal family and the press conference by senior SAD leaders fro Majha minus Bikram Majithia are strong indications of anger against SAD leadership in general and Sukhbir Badal-Bikram Majithia duo who brought all the dishonour for 125 year old party.

The Badal family is now busy in damage management exercise but it seems their efforts are not bearing any fruit. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa the most relevent leader of the party has resigned from all posts without discussing issue of his ill health with Parkash Singh Badal. He didnt even inform his son and former minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa about his decision of resigning from party posts. So much so Dhindsa who is available over phone to media persons is not even taking telephone calls of Badal. He also refused to entertain Badal's protege Daljit Singh Cheema who attempted twice.

Parminder Singh Dhindsa who initially expressed shock over the news of resignation by his father later came out with a statmenet that his family is committed to Badal family and SAD. It is understood Parminder Dhindsa who is also general secretary of SAD might have issued statement under pressure from Badal family. Though Sukhbir Badal had kept mum over the developments, Parkash Singh Badal came forward to claim that he and Dhindsa are very close to each other. In fact Sukhbir Badal is always using his father as a shield to over come political onslaught he faced on various occassions. Even on the issue of Justice Ranjit Singh commissiom, when Sukhbir Badal got a flak from senior leaders, he pitched his father to face the heat. Same Parkash Singh Badal who was not able to attend Vidhan Sabha session due to ill health was seen roaring in the SAD rallies to counter charges of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.

The senior leaders of Malwa and Majha had opposed most of the decisions taken by Sukhbir Badal in recent years but they kept quite in the public forms. There is long list of such leaders who dont like style of functioning of Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Majithia who run the party as corporate house without considering the interests of Sikh community and people of Punjab. Dhindsa and leaders who were today present in the Amrisar press conference were against the decision of pardoning dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh. The Sukhbir and Majithia however forced the Akal Takht jathedar to issue edict to exonerate dera chief. These leaders were also pained at 'sponsored' incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.

The voices of dissent were also heard from Jathedar Tota Singh, former SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar and many others who opposed Sukhbir Badal's unilateral decisions.

The senior Akali leadder Ranjit Sijngh Brahmpura, Rattan Singh Ajnala, Sewa Singh Sekhwan and second in command leaders former MLAs Amarpal Singh Boni, Manmohan Singh Sathiala, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura during conversation with media persons have opened their mind that they want culprits of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib be punished which is an indirect attack on Badal family. They admitted that all is not going well in the party and they shared thair pain that they have nourished Akali Dal with their hard work and would never damage the party. They however said that would raise the issue of party leadership in the core committee meeting of the party.

The Majha leaders are in fact victims of Bikram Singh Majithia who one by one sidelined them to clain the crown of leader of Majha. The simmering anger against Majithia has brought these leaders together to safeguard their political interests. They were ignored in taking important party decisions. It was only after party's shame on the issue of Ranjit Singh Commission report that Sukhbir announced to approach Taksali party leaders to revamp the party.

The Majha leaders have condemned police firing on Sikhs in Bargari and said that had the incidents of sacrilege were solved in time, there would have been no need of Bargari dharna and firing on protesing Sikhs.Ranjit Simgh Brahmpur said that resignation by Dhindsa was big setback and it is time to introspect why this situstion has arised. He also said that Akali Dal is not personal property of anybody it is repersentative party of all Punjabis living in India and abroad.

Rattan Singh Ajnala said that they were not united and vested interests tool advantage of it. Mow they have formed a united front and will use it for the development of their region. It was another pointer towards Bikram Majitjhia who worked to corner and divide the senior Majha leaders. The parting comments of Ajana 'Agge Agge Dekho hota hai kaya' are enough indication of new alignments in the SAD.

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