CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal senior vice President Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said here today that those trying to weaken the Khalsa. Panth as well as the party “have already rejected the Jhundan committee report in letter and spirit and have never abided even by the one-family one-ticket norm.
It may be recalled that Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa first accepted the leadership of Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal as President but revolted just because the party could not give the Lok Sabha ticket to his son S Parminder Singh Dhindsa.
Addressing media persons at the party headquarters here, Dr. Cheema said these leaders always say one thing in the meeting and do quite the opposite outside.
He appealed to these leaders not to let their personal failures to turn so desperate as to harm the sacred organisation to which they owe their very political existence. “I humbly appeal to them on behalf of the President Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal to come express whatever views they have within the party platform.
Dr Cheema also underlined the fact that party president’s wife Biba Harsimrat Kaur Badal was the first to offer surrendering her ticket honouring the Jhundan Committee’s recommendation for one family one ticket, in case the party fielded S Sukhbir Singh Badal in the Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking further, he said that no party allows as much intra party democratic freedom as does Shiromani Akali Dal. “There are times when we personally hold strong views different from the opinion of the majority in the party but once a decision is taken, I personally come and defend and promote the party’s majority decision. There is no other way to run an organisation.
Dr Cheema appealed to the media not to use expressions like “rebel group” with the Shiromani Akali Dal. The SAD is a party and you have seen with your eyes how ninety nine percent of our cadre, Working Committee, District presidents and halka in charges have backed the decisions taken on the party platforms. But yes, if a group of handful of leaders go and start their own “Dhai Paa Khichdi”, they may be termed as a group. Shiromani Akali Dal is a party, not a group, ” he reiterated.
On the occasion Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder Sukhi, who was a member of the four-member panel announced by party for Jalandhar (West) bye election, disclosed that party had duly informed the candidate Surjit Kaur about its decision of not contesting the bye election and she had agreed to withdraw her nomination form, later she took a u-turn.
The party leaders also questioned the detractors of the reason for fielding Bibi Surjit Kaur and then creating a mess in Jalandhar itself. They pointed out that it was a planned move to ensure her defeat and then putting the blame on party president.
Stating that the party president S Sukhbir Singh Badal is fully devoted to strengthen the party from grass root level to the top, Dr Cheema announced that he would continue holding meetings with the party cadre in the days ahead. He disclosed that S Sukhbir Singh Badal would meet and discuss current issues with the Youth Akali Dal office bearers on June 29, then Istri Akali Dal and SC wing of the party on July 1 and further SGPC members and BC wing of the party on July 2.