Badal turns 90, son Sukhbir busy with protest, skips event
BADAL (MUKTSAR): Former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal on Friday celebrated his 91st birthday at his native village in Muktsar district, but his son and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal skipped the occasion, being busy in protests over alleged violence against party workers by Congressmen ahead of civic polls in the state.
Addressing party workers who brought a cake for him, the SAD patriarch fondly mentioned Sukhbir’s name many times, asserting that the latter is following his footsteps by “putting party programmes above family occasions”. He added, “At the time of my daughter’s marriage, I was in a jail as it was the Emergency era. Today on my 91st birthday, my son Sukhbir is leading the protest against attack on our workers by the ruling party.”
A 10-time MLA who has served as CM five times, he looked hale and hearty as he smilingly acknowledged greetings of wellwishers at his palatial house.
His daughter-in-law, Union minister Harsimrat Kaur, was present. She, however, kept sitting among the womenfolk, preferring not to address the cadres.
The SAD leader said he did not like celebrating birthday functions and was not aware of the function until Friday morning as Sukhbir and Harsimrat planned the event. Badal also listened to holy hymns at a function by the family at the village stadium.
Born in 1927, Badal started his political career as sarpanch of his native village in 1947. First elected MLA on Congress ticket in 1957, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2015.
Though no longer in power, Badal is still active in politics. Known for his witty one-liners and sharp memory of people and events, he still calls on various families in his constituency.