At Bargari, SAD’S splinter groups announce ‘merger’
Also appeal to other Sikh outfits to unite for Panth ahead of LS polls
BARGARI(FARIDKOT): Different splinter groups of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday announced to “disband” their outfits and merge under a “common flag” for the cause of the ‘Panth’ ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
At the Bargari convention to mark the 549th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, Simranjit Singh Mann-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), United Akali Dal (UAD), Akali Dal (1920), and the Dal Khalsa also appealed to various Sikh religious and political outfits to unite.
Bargari is the epicentre of the ongoing protest for the arrest of those behind the 2015 sacrilege incidents and police firing. The sit-in at Bargari led by parallel Akal Takht jathedar Dhian Singh Mand entered 178th day on Sunday.
The proposal to unite was floated by religious preacher Baba Sewa Singh. These splinter groups have left it to Mand to take a final call on the issue.
“I am ready to unite as other leaders have also expressed their willingness to disband their outfits for the sake of ‘panthic’ unity,” Simranjit Mann said from the dais.
While the religious leaders were sitting on one side, politicians, including Aam Admi Party (AAP) MLAS Harpal Singh Cheema, Kultar Singh and Sarabjit Kaur Manuke, sat on the other. The AAP legislators left the venue soon after delivering speech in the beginning. Former deputy speaker Bir Devinder Singh was also present.
Mand and another parallel jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal propagated the significance of religion and its relevance in politics. “There is the need to revive a ‘taksali’ Akali Dal after the Badals shook hands with the BJP and diluted the ‘Panthic’ party. All like-minded parties and Sikh factions will assemble for unity soon,” Mand said.
“If the Sikh community wants justice for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the death of two young protesters (during 2015 protests), all Sikh factions must unite against the Badal-led Akali Dal,” he added.
ATTACK AT NIRANKARI BHAWAN CONDEMNED
Mand also condemned the grenade attack on the Nirankari congregation at Rajasansi near Amritsar, terming it as “a conspiracy to disturb peaceful atmosphere in Punjab”.
He and other speakers raised doubts over the arrest of the two Sikh youths in the attack case, pointing out that the eyewitnesses had described the attackers as clean-shaven men.
SAD (Mann) general secretary Gursewak Singh Mann said the state government has failed to crack the Maur bomb blasts and is also not ready to book the Badals in the sacrilege case. The incidents were a handiwork of Dera Saccha Sauda chief Ram Rahim, he said.
There is the need to revive a ‘taksali’ Akali Dal after the Badals shook hands with the BJP and diluted the Panthic party. DHIAN SINGH MAND, parallel Akal Takht jathedar
KHAIRA, SIMARJEET BAINS SKIP THE EVENT
Aam Admi Party dissident leader Sukhpal Khaira, who earlier stole the show at the last two conventions at Bargari, was conspicuous by his absence at the event on Sunday. Lok Insaaf Party (LIP)’S Simarjeet Singh Bains, who made fiery speeches from the Bargari stage earlier, also skipped the event.
PRIVATE SCHOOL BUS CARRYING RESIDENTS OF VILLAGES NEAR BARETA TOWN IN MANSA DISTRICT LOST CONTROL WHILE OVERTAKING AN AUTORICKSHAW