Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

Will work for getting Anandpur Sahib resolution implemente­d: SAD (Taksali)

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com ■

CHANDIGARH: The newly formed Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali) on Monday said the party will make efforts for the implementa­tion of the Anandpur Sahib resolution that seeks autonomy for Punjab as part of federal system of governance.

The resolution was passed by the Akali Dal in 1973.

“We will work for a genuine federal structure for the state,” said party general secretary Sewa Singh Sekhwan during a press conference in Chandigarh.

Party president Ranjit Singh Brahmpura said, “Our party will take a plunge into electoral battle and contest the parliament­ary and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbadhak Committee (SGPC) polls. We will also contest the assembly elections. It is yet not clear whether Rattan Singh Ajnala and Sekhwan will contest.”

Speaking to mediaperso­ns while inducting former All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Karnail Singh Peermohamm­ad into the party,

Brahmpura said he (Peermohamm­ad) will bring in a large number of youths along.

He hinted at forming a youth wing of the party with Peermohamm­ad leading it.

“Other than the Congress and Badals-led SAD, all other parties are welcome to join their party or have an alliance. We will have an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) only after they assure us they would not have an alliance with the Congress,” he said.

“A formal decision on the announceme­nt of candidates on 13 Lok Sabha seats will be taken only after talks with all parties and groups,” he clarified.

‘DHINDSA SILENT ON SUPPORT TO US’

Brahmpura said veteran Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa is maintainin­g a silence on supporting them. In September month last year, Dhindsa had resigned from all party post, triggering a crisis in the party. The next day, Brahmpura, Sekhwan and Ajnala dissented against the party leadership and were later expelled.

We will have an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party only after they assure us they would not have an alliance with the Congress.

RANJIT SINGH BRAHMPURA , SAD (Taksali) president

‘I HAVE NO LINK WITH REFERENDUM 2020’

Peermohama­d, who in the past has worked with Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, legal adviser of US-based Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), clarified that he had severed all links with Pannun and has no link with their movement ‘Referendum 2020’ launched for a separate Sikh state. The Punjab Police have registered a case of sedition against Pannun.

Sekhwan said Peermohama­d has dismantled AISSF faction he was heading before joining SAD (Taksali). “We have nothing to do with Pannun or Referendum 2020,” he said.

 ?? ANIL DAYAL/HT ?? ■ (From right) SAD (Taksali) leaders Rattan Singh Ajnala, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Sewa Singh Sekhwan with newly inducted party member Karnail Singh Peermohamm­ad during a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday.
ANIL DAYAL/HT ■ (From right) SAD (Taksali) leaders Rattan Singh Ajnala, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Sewa Singh Sekhwan with newly inducted party member Karnail Singh Peermohamm­ad during a press conference in Chandigarh on Monday.

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