CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today appointed his close aide Balwinder Singh Bhundar as working president of the party even as Sukhbir Badal has not submitted his resignation from the post of president. The announcement of working president was made a day before Badal is scheduled to appear before Akal Takht.
Sukhbir Badal has been summoned by Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Raghbir Singh after the rebel group of Akalis blamed Badal family for sacrilege incidents of Guru Granth Sahib, giving apology to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Raheem Singh, appointing Sumedh Singh Saini as DGP of Punjab and other mistakes Badals committed during 2007 to 2017 when they were in rule. Former CM Parkash Singh Badal who was also accused to misusing his authority had died.
Sukhbir appeared before the highest Sikh temporal seat on July 24 with a written explanation to the allegations levelled by the rebel Akali Dal leaders. The rebel SAD leaders were demanding resignation of Sukhbir Badal but the latter refused to resign and instead appointed a working president.
The five high priests would hold a meeting tomorrow to decide the fate of Sukhbir Badal who will appear before them. Sukhbir Badal claimed he would appear before the high priests as a humble Sikh.
The rebel SAD leader Charanjit Singh Brar refuted the clains of Sukhbir Badal and said that how he could be a humble Sikh when he has not resigned from his post. He said that Sukhbir Badal was making a lie and befooling the Sikhs by appointing his stooge Bhundar as working president. He said that no meeting of core committee or working committee was taken to appoint Bhundar. He said that there was no provision in SAD constitution to appoint a working president by president himself. He said that Badal has again committed a mistake.