Chandigarh- The Working Committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal today unanimously decided not to contest forthcoming by-elections to four assembly seats in Punjab in keeping with panthic interests and ‘maan-maryada’ of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.This unanimous decision was taken at an emergent meeting of the Working Committee of the party, district Presidents and constituency incharges which was presided over by SAD’s Working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder.
Briefing newsmen about the decision, party senior leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said “at today’s meeting there was an overwhelming feeling that party president Sukhbir Singh Badal had taken moral responsibility for all acts of omission and commission during the erstwhile SAD government on behalf of the party. It was felt by the Working Committee, district presidents and constituency incharges that since the head of the family – party president Sukhbir Singh Badal had been forbidden by Sri Akal Takht to participate in the by-elections, they too could not participate in the exercise. Everyone felt they should consider themselves as part of the SAD President’s family and act accordingly”.
Asserting that the SAD was completely beholden to Sri Akal Takht Sahib and was resolute in its determination to obey all the directions of the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs, Dr Daljit Cheema said “we also understand that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the State, the central government and the BJP and RSS have hatched a conspiracy to make the SAD leaderless. This conspiracy, under which Sikh institutions like Sachkhand Sri Hazur Sahib Trust have been snatched from us and a separate Gurdwara body has been formed in Haryana, is ongoing with attempts being made to influence the forthcoming elections to the President and executive committee of the SGPC in favour of the Sudhar Lehar group”.
Asserting that the Working Committee had decided to stand up to save Sikh institutions, Dr Cheema said “for us morality comes before any political activity. The SAD is not a political shop but represents a glorious heritage of sacrifices for the Panth. The party president has submitted himself completely to Sri Akal Takht Sahib in true ‘Gurmat’ tradition. This has been done to stop the false propaganda being spread against the party by the complainants in the case – Sudhar Lehar leaders who were part and parcel of erstwhile SAD governments as well as all decisions made by the government and party”.
The Working Committee also passed a resolution which detailed all the steps taken by the party president following the complaint filed against him by the Sudhar Lehar leaders as well as the meetings held by SAD delegations with the Singh Sahiban. The resolution also reiterated its utmost respect for Sri Akal Takht Sahib.