Page 34 - 15JAN2020E-1
P. 34

ot all is well in the almost   Storm                    SAD and MP from Khadoor Sahib, Ran-
                  100 years-old faction rid-                              jit Singh Brahmpura revolted against
                  den Shiromani Akali Dal                                 the leadership of Sukhbir. When the
                  (SAD). In fact a storm has   brewing                    issue was failed to be resolved, he quit
         N been brewing in the party                                      from all posts and citing old age and
         for quite some time. There is a sim-                             health concerns he also announced
         mering discontent in one of the oldest                           that he will not contest any poll in fu-
         political parties in the country headed   in 99                  ture. Later he also resigned from SAD
         by Sukhbir Singh Badal, son of former                               The Taksali leader, (traditional Akali)
         Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh                              Brahmpura had said that he was up-
         Badal. The discontent in the party,    years                     set with the way sacrilege incidents
         which was in power for 10 years from                             were handled by the previous SAD-BJP
         2007 to 2017, is reported to be hamper-                          government. He had also expressed
         ing its all out attack on the ruling Con-                        anguish over the previous govern-
         gress in Punjab under Capt Amarinder   old SAD                   ment’s pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda
         Singh.                                                           head  Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in a
           Political analysts feel that there are                         blasphemy case in the year 2015. Later
         clear indications that a storm is gath-  The discontent in the party,   Gurmeet Rm Rahim was jailed in rape
         ering on the horizon and it may pose   which was in power for 10   cases. Later another Taksali leader
         a serious challenge to the leadership                            Sewa Singh Sekhwan, Vice president
         of Sukhbir Badal. Factional feud in the   years from 2007 to 2017, is   of SAD and former minister had also
         SAD is nothing new. In the past also   reportedly hampering its attack   resigned from all party posts as well as
         Sukhbir Badal has faced opposition and   on the ruling Congress in   member of the Core Committee of SAD,
         challenge to his leadership. Last year                           upset as he was with the functioning in
         81-years-old senior vice president of   Punjab, writes rajendra khatry  the party. He also quit SAD.


                                                        34
   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39