Delegates authorise the President to constitute the new Working Committee
Amritsar: Former Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was today unanimously elected President of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) at the delegates session of the party at the Teja Singh Samundri Hall here today
Sukhbir Badal’s name was proposed by senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar and was seconded by Paramjit Singh Sarna.
The delegates did not propose any other candidate following which Party Chief Election Officer Gulzar Singh Raneka proclaimed Badal as the new President of the party amidst thunderous slogans of “Bole so Nihal, Sat Sri Akal”.
The delegates also authorised the President to constitute the party’s new Working Committee.
Addressing the delegates after his election as President, Badal said “I give you my solemn commitment that I will never compromise on any issue which concerns the prestige of the Khalsa Panth, Punjab and the SAD”.
Issuing an impassioned appeal for a broader Panthic unity , he called upon all those who may have gone away from SAD out of any grievance to rejoin the Panthic mainstream under the Akali banner, rising above their differences. “ We owe this to Khalsa Panth and Punjab. “
Badal also spoke on how the last six months had witnessed a conspiracy to finish the SAD as well as its leadership. He said this conspiracy first started when the SAD left the NDA to express its solidarity with the farmers who were agitating against the three farm bills. “This conspiracy was accelerated during the last six months. It is unfortunate that when we left the NDA, the Center decided to bring its stooges to the fore. The managements of Sri Hazur Sahib and Patna Sahib Boards were expanded to take them under government control. The centre also took over the DSGMC by inducting its leaders into the BJP besides breaking a new Gurdwara Committee for Haryana”.
Badal said it was most unfortunate that even the decisions of the “quom” were manipulated by such forces and “ even our respected Jathedar Sahiban who should have acted as custodian of Panthic interests chose to play into the hands of these forces. “I congratulate the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for vacating the ‘kabja’ of anti Sikh forces over our Takhts”.
Giving a clarion call to the delegates to prepare for bringing the SAD back to power in 2027, Badal said “once our workers decide to bring the SAD to power it will come about. I on my part assure you that the next SAD government will preside over the eradication of the gangster culture and drug mafia which is being patronised by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government”. He also announced that the SAD was committed to all round development. We will bring back industry in the State. We will ensure all sections of society be it farmers or the weaker sections get their due. I am committed to making Punjab the number one State in the country”.
The new President also thanked outgoing Working President Balwinder Singh Bhundar for his contribution to the party during a critical juncture. He also announced that the ‘barsi’ of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal would be commemorated in Lambi on April 25. He said it would also be marked with Akhand Paath and Bhog ceremony at all district headquarters in Punjab as well as similar programmes in Haryana and Delhi.
A number of resolutions were presented in the delegate session by senior leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema and others and passed unanimously. The SADcondemned handing over Constitutional powers by the Punjab government to AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal and his team and said it was shocking that these people, who are out on bail in corruption cases, were checking government files. The Party also condemned the total collapse of Law and Order in the State and expressed serious concern at grenade attacks on Police Stations, vandalism of statues of Babasaheb BR Ambedkar and desecration of temples.
The SAD demanded immediate release of Bandi Singhs as per commitment made by the Central government and also said the death sentence of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana should be commuted to life without any further delay. It also urged all political parties to join hands to pressurise the Centre to implement a genuine federal structure in the State while asserting the Centre was usurping State powers on a regular basis.
The Party also demanded Punjabi speaking areas of Haryana and transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and condemned attempts to retain it as a permanent UT. It also demanded that Punjabi language should be given due respect in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and other areas where Punjabi speaking community resided. It also condemned direct interference in religious affairs of Sikh community and blamed BJP and AAP for creation of the separate Gurdwara Management Committee in Haryana. The SAD also condemned recent amendments made in Waqf Board and demanded repeal of these amendments.
