CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of taking money from the liquor and cigarette manufacturing company to fund the party.
Addressing a press conference convened at the party headquarters here on Monday, AAP leaders Manwinder Singh Giaspura and Dinesh Chaddha accused Sukhbir Singh Badal that the Akali Dal's constitution states that user of drugs or intoxicants cannot be made a member of the party, but despite that, Sukhbir Badal took money from traders involved in such businesses. The leaders said that Badal raised millions in party funds from cigarette maker ITC and liquor maker Rajasthan Liquor Limited. They said that the Akali Dal has been oppressed by the Badal family and the dignity of the party was completely destroyed by these people.
The AAP leaders further said that when the Akali Dal was established, it was said that people who indulge in alcohol and other types of intoxicants would not be included in the party. They said that Master Tara Singh and other founding members strengthened the Akali Dal by working hard and struggling and they never compromised with their principles. "But the Badal family captured the Akali Dal and buried all the principles of the party, " they added. Showing the documents of the information submitted by the Akali Dal to the Election Commission, the AAP leaders said that the head of the party whose constitution says that drug addicts will not be given even membership of the party, took Rs 15 lakh as 'party fund' on March 28, 2019 from a Cigarette maker company, which makes crores of people intoxicated and Rs 25 lakh as 'party fund' from a liquor company - Rajasthan Liquor Limited on May 10, 2019.
Appealing to the media, the leaders said that the Akali Dal's image was completely ruined by Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Badal family, hence the Akali Dal should be called Badal Dal. Referring to the 'party funds' received by the Akali Dal in the last two years, the AAP leaders said that out of Rs 1.75 crore received in 2018, Rs 1.30 crore, which is about 75% of the amount, was given by the companies associated with the Badal family. "At the same time, in 2017, about 76 percent of the money was given by companies related to the Badal family. Sukhbir Badal has made the Akali Dal a Badal Private Limited, " they added.
The AAP leaders said that now the Akali Dal party has become the medium of trade for Sukhbir Badal. They said that Sukhbir Badal's money was involved in every kind of business from media to transport. The leaders further said that on one hand Sukhbir Badal took money in the 'party fund' from the companies which are into manufacturing of intoxicants and on the other hand, made the woman who murdered her daughter, the head of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). "By doing this, Sukhbir Badal has tainted the Akali Dal, Sikhism and Punjab, " they added. The AAP leaders requested the Akal Takht Jathedar to take action against Sukhbir Badal for this tarnished act and boycott of the Badal family. They also appealed to the people of Punjab to boycott Sukhbir Badal and the Badal family.