Haryana gurdwara panel chief Jhinda floats party
AMRITSAR/KARNAL : Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (ad hoc) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda on Saturday launched a new political party — Janta Akali Dal.
He made the announcement after performing ‘ardas’ at Akal Takht Sahib here.
“Today is a historic day for all of us as we have launched a political party at the Akal Takht. This is a party of the people, by the people and for the people,” said Jhinda, who has been struggling for a separate gurdwara panel for Haryana-based gurdwaras.
Speaking to HT, Jhinda accused the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of abandoning Sikh principles under the leadership of Badals.
“The SAD never witnessed such decline as during Parkash Singh Badal’s regime,” he said. “The goal of our party is to bring into practice Guru Hargobind’s concept of Miri Piri — religion, not politics, should play dominant role. But the Badal family has placed politics above religion.”
TO TEST THE WATERS IN HIMACHAL POLLS
Jhinda said his party is dedicated to the Akal Takht and will not limit itself to Haryana.
“Headquartered at Chandigarh, the Janta Akali Dal will work in 11 states in India and 10 countries across the world,” he said. “All its members will be baptised Sikhs.”
Releasing the party’s 21-point agenda, Jhinda said it will contest the Himachal Pardesh assembly elections on local issues and will also support farmer agitations in the country.
Jhinda also made it clear that the same person will not hold both the posts of HSGMC and party president.
Naming himself the party’s national president, he has appointed Joga Singh as general secretary, Harpreet Singh Narula the senior vice-president, Avtar Singh Chaku the Haryana affairs in-charge and Harvinder Kaur of Delhi the women’s wing chief.
But Jhinda said that the formal announcement of all officebearers will be made after the party get registered next month.
WON’T WIN SINGLE SEAT: ARCH-RIVAL
Didar Singh Nalvi, who recently staged an unsuccessful coup against the HSGMC chief, said Jhinda’s party will not even be able to open its account.
“I congratulate Jhinda saab for the formation of the new party, but I am sure he will not be able to win a single seatm,” he said. “Jhinda had ignored the sentiments of the Sikhs in Haryana to fulfil his political ambitions.”
The Badal family has placed politics above religion, leading to the decline of Akali Dal. JAGDISH SINGH JHINDA, HSGMC president