SAD CORE GROUP AUTHORISES SUKHBIR TO PICK CANDIDATES

CHANDIGARH: The core committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday authorised party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also Punjab deputy chief minister, to decide candidates for the 2017 assembly polls.

The meeting of the committee, which was chaired by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, also discussed the holding of different religious and political functions in the run up to the polls.

According to party spokesperson Harcharan Bains, Sukhbir briefed about a series of functions scheduled to be held in the near future, which include inauguration of a war memorial in Amritsar on October 23, in which top defence officers will also take part.

It will be followed by a big event in Amritsar for inauguration of the heritage walk (Virasat Darshan) around the Golden Temple complex on October 25. A public rally to pay homage to warriors of the Punjabi Suba movement will follow the inauguration of the heritage walk. The rally will also be attended by top BJP leaders.

The Jang-e-Azadi memorial, first of its kind monument in the country to pay tributes to the warriors of the freedom movement, will be inaugurated on November 6. The meeting also decided to celebrate 350th Parkash Utsav of Guru Gobind Singh on November 27 and the party has planned a huge public gathering at Anandpur Sahib the same day.

The committee decided to organise a rally at Moga on December 6, birthday of CM Badal. The rally, according to an Akali leader, will mark the beginning of the party’s poll campaign.