SAD HINTS AT RETURN TO PANTHIC ROOTS
Leaders recall party’s history; issues such as handing over Chandigarh to Punjab, stopping sharing of river water with other states raked up
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday celebrated its foundation day at the Golden Temple after nearly three decades, hinting at the return to ‘panthic agenda’ and recalling its ‘glorious’ history in a bid to reboot the party cadre after its rout in the assembly elections early this year.
After a large political conference in Moga on its 75th foundation day, this is for the first time that the Akali Dal organised an event on a large scale at Manji Sahib Diwan Hall in the Golden Temple complex to mark the day.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which the party controls, had made all arrangements for the congregation. Besides the entire Akali leadership, the congregation was also attended by Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh and SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal.
OLD ISSUES TO THE FORE
Apart from raising old demands such as giving Chandigarh and Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab and stopping sharing of river water with other states, party leaders, including former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and president Sukhbir Badal, recalled the sacrifices made by Akali workers since 1920 for librating historic shrines from British-installed mahants and the Indian freedom struggle.
Badal said the SAD fought against the excesses of Emergency despite a message from Indira Gandhi to share the spoils of power. “The Akali workers emerged winners in every struggle under the guidance of the Akal Takht,” he said.
‘SGPC MUST INTENSIFY DHARAM PRACHAR’
Exhorting SGPC chief Longowal to intensify ‘dharam prachar’ (propagation of religion), Badal also told the apex gurdwara body to teach the SAD’s ‘glorious history’ at the educational institution being run by it.
“It is high time the SAD workers get out of the comfort of their homes and meet the masses to strengthen the party,” he said. On the allegations of rival parties that the SAD has been reduced to their family’s fiefdom, Sukhbir said “the SAD is not personal asset of the Badal family” and it has been enriched by the sacrifices of Akali workers. He asked the party workers to form a volunteer task force to counter the Congress government’s alleged excesses. “I am committed to lead any agitation from the front and will not allow repression against a single Akali worker,” he said.
He said the party will organise a grand event to mark its 100th foundation day in 2020.
ISSUE OF ARTICLE 25 (B) ALSO COMES UP
SAD’s Delhi unit head and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjit Singh GK said, “Sikhs are a separate community but the Constitution continues to deprive them of this status. There is a need to amend Article 25 (b) which recognises Sikhs as part of the Hindu community.”
GATHERING BELOW EXPECTATION
Even as party spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema claimed that party workers came not only from every corner of Punjab, but also from neighbouring states and abroad, there were several SGPC employees and security personnel in the hall.