SAD not to campaign for any party in Delhi polls
Akali Dal says party firm on its ‘secular CAA’ stand; decides not to concede to the BJP’S demand for more seats in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: The core committee of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — party’s top decision-making body — on Wednesday decided not to campaign for any party in Delhi and left it to the supporters to decide whom to vote for.
It also passed a resolution reiterating its stand that Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) should look ‘secular’.
The meeting was chaired by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal in which Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) president Manjinder Singh Sirsa submitted a report on the political scenario in the national capital that goes to the polls on February 8.
Sirsa brought before the committee the sequence of events leading to party’s decision to not contest the polls.
As per the decision taken in the meeting, the Delhi unit of the party will meet members of the DSGMC, office-bearers of the Singh Sabhas and other Sikhs bodies to convey to them that party supporters be asked to take call at their own level. We should let Sikhs living outside Punjab to take call what is appropriate for them,” suggested senior leader Tota Singh.
A section of leaders also suggested that party should not concede to BJP in Punjab and rejected its demand for contesting on more seats. The issue was raised by senior leaders, including Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Charanjeet Singh Atwal, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Jagmeet Brar, and there was a consensus among the members.
Among those who attended the meeting were SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, Prem Singh Chandumajra, Hari Singh Zira, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Bibi Jagir Kaur, Sikander Singh Maluka, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Daljit Singh Cheema, Darbara Singh Guru and Baldev Singh Mann.
CM ASKED TO CLARIFY STAND ON CAA
The core panel asked Punjab Capt Amarinder Singh to “clarify his stand on the CAA and to come clean on whether he supports or opposes the protection given the Sikhs under the Act”. “He (CM) needs to tell the Sikhs whether he supports or opposes the clauses in the CAA which pertain specifically to the members of the Sikh religion,” reads a resolution they passed.
DEMAND FOR CASE AGAINST CONG LEADERS
The members also demanded that revenue minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar and Faridkot MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon be booked for the death of former Behbal Kalan sarpanch Surjit Singh, who the victim’s family alleged was being harassed for deposing against the police officers responsible for opening fire at anti-sacrilege protesters.
DSGMC PRESIDENT SIRSA SUBMITS A REPORT ON POLITICAL SCENARIO IN THE CAPITAL THAT GOES TO POLLS ON FEB 8
WARNS CM AGAINST IMPOSITION OF BILLS ON AGRI-TUBEWELLS
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also warned Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh not to do anything, which violates the riparian principle of river water sharing and dilutes the state’s claim over waters of rivers flowing through the state.
Saying that the party will participate in Thursday’s meeting convened by the CM to discuss the issue, the SAD warned the Congress government in the state against any move to impose electricity bill and to discontinue the free power facility to farmers under the pretext of falling water levels in the state.