Deep conspiracies hatched to eliminate Akali Dal and its leadership
AMRITSAR: Former Deputy Chief Minister Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal was unanimously elected as the President of Shiromani Akali Dal in the delegate session held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall here today.
Senior leader Sardar Balwinder Singh Bhunder proposed the name of Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal, which was seconded by Sardar Paramjit Singh Sarna and seconded by Sardar Maheshinder Singh Grewal.
The delegates did not present the name of any other candidate after which the party's Chief Election Officer Sardar Gulzar Singh Ranike announced to the echoes of 'Bole so Nihal, Sat Sri Akal' that Sardar Badal has been elected as the party president.
The delegates also delegated the authority to the president to form the new working committee of the party.
Addressing the delegates after being elected as the president, Sardar Badal said that I firmly promise you that I will never compromise on the honor, respect and dignity of the Khalsa Panth, Punjab and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Calling for greater Panthic unity, he appealed to the leaders who had distanced themselves from the Akali Dal to forget their differences and join the Panthic mainstream under the banner of the Akali Dal. He said that we are dedicated to the Khalsa Panth and Punjab.
Sardar Badal also told how a conspiracy was hatched to eliminate the Akali Dal and its leadership during the last six months. He said that this conspiracy first started when the party split from the Akali Dal NDA in solidarity with the farmers protesting against the three black agricultural laws. He said that this conspiracy has intensified in the last six months. He said that it is very unfortunate that when we split from the NDA, the Central Government put its puppets to work. The Sri Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib Management Committee boards were expanded and brought under government control. The Central Government took control of the Delhi Gurdwara Committee by getting the leaders of the BJP to join it and a separate Gurdwara Committee was formed for Haryana.
Sardar Badal said that it is very unfortunate that the decisions of the ‘community’ started being taken by such forces at their own will. He said that our respected Jathedars who should have worked as the protectors of the Panthic interests also started playing into the hands of these forces. He said that he would like to congratulate the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for ending the 'occupation' of these anti-Sikh forces from our Takhts.
He invited the delegates to prepare for bringing the Akali Dal back into the fold in 2027 and said that once the workers take a decision, the Akali Dal will definitely come to power. He said that on my part, I assure you that the Akali government will eliminate the gangster culture and drug mafia that the Aam Aadmi Party has nurtured.
He also announced that the Akali Dal is committed to all-round development. He said that we will bring back industry in the state. We will ensure that all sections of society, including farmers and the weaker sections, get their due rights. He said that I am determined to make Punjab the number one state in the country.
The new president appreciated the contribution made by the outgoing working president Sardar Balwinder Singh Bhunder to the party during difficult times. He also announced that the death anniversary of former Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal will be celebrated in Lambi on April 25. He said that on this occasion, Bhog of Sri Akhand Path Sahib will be offered at all district headquarters of Punjab and similar programs will be held in Haryana and Delhi.
On this occasion, 18 resolutions were presented by senior leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema and other senior leaders in the delegate session which were unanimously accepted.
The Akali Dal condemned the Punjab government’s transfer of constitutional powers to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and his team and said that it was surprising that these people, who were out on bail in corruption cases, were looking at government files. The party also condemned the breakdown of law and order in the state and expressed serious concern over grenade attacks on police stations and desecration of statues and temples of Babasaheb B R Ambedkar.
The Akali Dal also demanded the release of the imprisoned Sikhs as promised by the central government and also demanded that the death sentence of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana be immediately commuted to life imprisonment. The party appealed to all political parties to join hands in pressuring the central government to establish a proper federal structure, stressing that the central government is regularly usurping the powers of the states.
The party also demanded that the Punjabi-dominated areas of Haryana and Chandigarh be given to Punjab, and the party condemned the efforts to make Chandigarh a permanent UT. The party also demanded that Punjabis be given due respect in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and other areas where Punjabi-speaking people live.
The party condemned interference in the religious affairs of the Sikh community and called on the BJP, Congress and AAP to form a separate committee in Haryana.