Hindustan Times (Chandigarh)

SAD to enter poll fray in UP, Rajasthan in 2019: Sukhbir

- Avtar singh

LONGOWAL (SANGRUR) : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Monday that the party will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, a day after he announced to pitch candidates from all seats in Haryana without any coalition partner.

Sukhbir said this while addressing party workers on the 33th death anniversar­y of former party president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in Sangrur’s Longowal town.

“I appeal to the Sikh community across the country to unite under the banner of the Akali Dal which raises their voice. The nexus between bogus jathedars and the Congress leadership has been exposed. Justice Ranjit Singh (who headed the panel probing incidents of sacrilege and Bargari firing) is a Congressma­n. Our core committee on Tuesday will decide whether we will attend the upcoming assembly session or not,” Sukhbir said.

He said the Congress was hand in glove with bogus jathedars camping at Bargari (Faridkot) to divide the Sikh community.

He also attacked former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira by alleging that his forefather­s were ‘Khalistan supporters’.

“Khaira earlier was with the Congress which is an anti-sikh party. When he was removed from the post of leader of opposition (LOP), he started accusing AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of being dictatoria­l and selling tickets during the assembly polls,” he said.

Senior leader Sukhdev Singh

SAYS THE CONGRESS IS HAND IN GLOVE WITH ‘BOGUS JATHEDARS’ CAMPING AT BARGARI TO DIVIDE SIKH COMMUNITY

Dhindsa, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal and Lehra MLA Parminder Singh Dhindsa also addressed the gathering.

Meanwhile, cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot also paid floral tributes to Sant Longowal as the state level function to commemorat­e Longowal was cancelled due to the death of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

MARK DEATH ANNIV ON A LATER DATE: DHINDSA

Senior SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa proposed to postpone marking of Longowal’s death anniversar­y to a later date saying the weather remains quite hot during this time. To this, Sukhbir said he had no issue with the suggestion and the SGPC president and the sangat may take a decision on it.

When asked, the SGPC chief said he will take up the matter with the sangat and a decision will be taken accordingl­y.

AAP PROTEST IN SUNAM

Sunam legislator Aman Arora along with his supporters held a protest at the Longowal-sunam bridge which he said may collapse anytime. He alleged that the state government has failed to provide amenities to local residents.

“The community health centre is being run with a single doctor as two of the doctors are on deputation,” said Arora.

 ?? BHARAT BHUSHAN /HT ?? SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal pays tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in Sangrur on Monday.
BHARAT BHUSHAN /HT SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal pays tributes to Sant Harchand Singh Longowal in Sangrur on Monday.

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