AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today submitted a representation to Sri Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh to make him aware of the legal hurdles being faced by the party in implementing the directive to form a seven member committee to hold organizational elections of the party even as it briefed the Takht chief that the party’s Working Committee would meet shortly to announce the schedule for the membership drive for the forthcoming organizational elections.
Disclosing this to newsmen here, senior party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said a party delegation apprised the Jathedar that the SAD had always accepted all the directives of the supreme temporal seat with utmost humility. He said all party leaders had undergone the religious punishment awarded to them by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and that SAD president S Sukhbir Singh Badal had also submitted his resignation to the party.
Dr Cheema said however technical issues were coming in the way of formation of the seven member committee as directed by the Takht. He said while these issues had been explained to the Takht earlier also, a delegation of the party took time to explain the entire issue to the Jathedar in detail today. “All constitutional amendments, Supreme Court directives and Election Commission guidelines were submitted to the Takht in this regard”, he added.
The SAD leader also took on forces which were inimical towards the SAD for misleading the people that there was no hurdle in implementing the directive on formation of a committee to monitor the organizational elections of the party. “Such forces are now in the process of registering their own parties. I challenge them to make their applications public so that the people can understand how different they are vis a vis what they preach and what they will actually practice”.
Dr Cheema said as per the Performa for registration of new parties, it was mandated that there would not be any religious or caste overtone in the name of the party and that its objectives would be in line with the constitution of the country. “It is also mandated that all decisions of the parties would reflect the democratic spirit and that socialism and secularism would serve as tenets of the party. It is also clearly mentioned that all decisions would be taken in a democratic manner and that there will not be any veto power”.
The SAD also thanked Giani Raghbir Singh for giving the party delegation including Gulzar Singh Ranike, Hira Singh Gabria, Paramjit Singh Sarna, Ram Singh, Kulwant Singh Manan, Surjit Singh Kadhonwal and Arshdeep Singh Kler a patient hearing on the occasion.