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SAD’s break and fall is now • Divided they fall The split in SAD comes at a

time when Congress has gained strength
clearly written on the wall phemy, the series of sacrilege incidents

at Bargari and police firing in Behbal
Kalan, the leaders have accused SAD
chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and his
NEWS & Amid rising dissent and rebellion, the oldest regional party of the brother-in-law Bikram Singh Majithia
country stares at a split as breakaway group announces the new
VIEWS political entity of causing irreparable damage to
SAD. Brahmpura said that “their
BHARAT HITESHI ill-conceived moves have dented the
core image of SAD and reduced it to a
he inevitable has happened. is mocking the Badal family for spoiling dynasty.
Hiteshi is an Tehelka Cover Story (De- sports shoes. The opposition parties have This was the reason it had to con-
independent journalist- cember 1-15, 2018) “Crises described the exercise a political drama. tend with just 15 seats in the Vidhan
turned-author and a make SAD SAD ahead of its The political rivals have said that pardon Sabha. These circumstances necessi-
political commentator. 100th anniversary?” hinted can for mistakes and not for sins com- tated floating a parallel party based on
The views expressed T at a split that the oldest mitted by Badal family. Akal Dal’s original 1920 Constitution.”
are his own regional party of the country, Akali Dal Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh The veteran leaders, along with
later renamed as the Shiromani Akali Brahmpura has announced the forma- Brahmpura’s son Ravinder Singh
Dal was staring at. The party formed on tion of a new political party, less than Brahmpura and Ajnala’s son Amarpal
December 14, 1920, is now on the verge a month after the Shiromani Akali Dal Singh ‘Bonny’ Ajnala, were expelled
of a split on its foundation day that is expelled him and two other Taksalis from the primary membership of the
December 14. leaders Sewa Singh Sekhwan and Dr party for six years for indulging in
The announcement of a new politi- Rattan Singh Ajnala. The trio said the fu- anti-party activities on November 11.
cal party by a rebelling section of the ture line of action would be announced The decision to form a new front was historic Chohla Sahib village in Tarn Future imperfect
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) trio Ranjit on December 14, which happens to be taken during a meeting of the trio at Taran and held Sukhbir and Majithia The coming together of the three lead-
Singh Brahmpura, Sewa Singh Sekhwan the foundation day of SAD. Brahmpura Brahmpura’s residence in Amritsar. In responsible for granting pardon to ers against the party they belonged
and Dr Rattan Singh Ajnala have caused said the new “parallel party” would be a joint statement, Khadoor Sahib MP Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram to makes the revolt very serious. If
much political upheaval in Punjab. The based on Akali Dal’s “original ideology” of Brahmpura, former Rahim Singh in a blasphemy case, Ko- we look back into history, the SAD
development is bound to shake up the 1920, though adapted to suit the “present MP Ajnala, former minister Sekhwan, takpura and Behbal Kalan police firing has faced many a revolt in the past.
grand old party of Punjab. circumstances and prevailing situation”. Ajnala’s son Bonny and former MLA and the Bargari sacrilege incidents. However, all the rebels including the
The party, he added, would retain Manmohan Singh Sathiala said: “The motive behind floating the powerful Gurcharan Singh Tohra
Badal’s viral video the words ‘Shiromani Akali Dal’, but the “On the demand of Sikhs living in new party is to free the SAD from the faded into the oblivion of political
It has happened when Assembly election suffix would be announced soon. He said Punjab and abroad, we have decided to clutches of Sukhbir and Majithia,” said marginalization. Tohra was President
results from five states have come and all “like-minded” party leaders had been float a new party on December 14, the Sekhwan, adding that the new outfit of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parband-
are being debated. The results are being approached to join, “we welcome even day when the Shiromani Akali Dal was will contest Shiromani Gurdwara Par- hak Committee (SGPC) for a record 27
considered a semi-final to 2019 general non-Akali parties who can adhere to our formed in 1920.” Sekhwan, Brahmpura, bandhak Committee, Lok Sabha and years and was one of the most influ-
elections. It has also happened when ideology. The Bains brothers and AAP Ajnala and some other Taksali leaders Vidhan Sabha elections. They claimed ential and unparalleled Sikh leaders of
Badal family is trying to atone for its leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who have (old guard) had raised a banner of that Rajya Sabha member Sukhdev the 20th century.
A new party sins. The Badal family members Parkash old Akali connections, too have been revolt against party president Sukh- Singh Dhindsa is also in their contact. What would be the fate of a
by a rebelling Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal, and apprised of our vision.” Sekhwan and Dr bir Singh Badal and former minister Dhindsa had tendered his resignation powerful trio and the Shiromani
Bikram Singh Majithia, accusing them
Ajnala admitted that they had commit-
from all party posts on September 29
Akali Dal is yet to be seen, the politi-
Harsimrat Kaur Badal along with Bikram
section of SAD Singh Majithia and other senior party ted a blunder by not raising their voice at of deviating from the Panthic agenda on health grounds. cal leadership of the SAD has taken
Talking about the Kartarpur cor-
trio — Ranjit Singh leaders have started ‘sewa’ at Golden the “appropriate platform”. and causing irreparable damage to the ridor, Brahmpura said credit for the the challenge seriously, it seems. The
“With folded hands, we seek an
SAD and its cause.
decision to do “sewa” at the Golden
Temple to atone their mistakes made
Brahmpura, Sewa during 10 years of their rule in Punjab. apology from the entire Punjabi com- The veteran leaders had expressed project should go to local bodies min- Temple and atone for sins committed
They are accused of sacrilege of Guru
Singh Sekhwan Granth Sahib, protecting the culprits of munity that though we had opposed their dismay at the “sad state of affairs” ister Navjot Singh Sidhu as Pakistan’s “knowingly or unknowingly” shows
at the party in a joint press conference
that Badals have decided to take the
Prime Minister Imran Khan is his good
Badal-Majithia over anti-Panthic policies
and Dr Rattan sacrilege and forcing Sikh high priests to within the party, we should have placed on October 1. The trio then boycotted friend and decided to honour Sidhu’s challenge head-on. The party needs
Singh Ajnala —has pardon the dera Sacha Sauda chief Gur- the issues in the people’s court then.” the party’s October 7 Patiala rally. On wish. “It was the long-pending demand to do serious introspection and take
of Sikhs. Though government of both
remedial measures to carry the cadre
meet Ram Raheem Singh. In one of the
October 23, Brahmpura resigned from
caused political pictures that have gone viral on social Flip-flop trigger all party posts and Sekhwan followed nations made efforts for the corridor along.
Citing the flip-flop decision to pardon
on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru
suit on November 3. On November 4,
media, even Parkash Singh Badal is seen
upheaval in Punjab polishing sports shoes. The social media the Dera Sacha Sauda chief for blas- Brahmpura held a show of strength at Nanak, the credit goes to Sidhu.” LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM
TEHELKA / 31 DECEMBER 2018 30 WWW.TEHELKA.COM TEHELKA / 31 DECEMBER 2018 31 WWW.TEHELKA.COM
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