The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had urged the Election Commission to suspend the organizational elections of the SAD on the directions of his bosses Rahul Gandhi
Chandigarh, April 10 – The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had urged the Election Commission. He wanted to suspend the organizational elections of the SAD. He acted on the directions of his bosses Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. They were in league with the rebel Akali faction.
SAD Slams Randhawa’s EC Complaint as Desperate Political Move
At a press conference here, senior SAD leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema addressed the media. He said Sukhjinder Randhawa’s complaint to the Election Commission was a desperate attempt. The attempt was to prevent the SAD from coming back in the field. “Earlier the rebel group had aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and even the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to damage the SAD. Now it has even joined hands with the Congress. While it exposes the rebel group thoroughly, it also makes it clear that all the parties in the fray are afraid of the SAD”.
Dr Daljit Cheema asserted that the SAD had consistently warned about the rebel group’s attempts. They were trying to link the party’s membership drive with religion. Their aim was to get it derecognized. He said, “The linkup between the rebel group and Sukhjinder Randhawa proves this.”
Cheema urged the Congress top leadership to confront the SAD openly. He mentioned Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge specifically. He advised them to avoid using cloak-and-dagger tactics. Instead of using partisan leaders like Sukhjinder Randhawa as ‘whistle-blowers’ to the Election Commission, he encouraged direct confrontation. He also asked the Congress top leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, to come out in the open. He urged them to fight with the SAD instead of indulging in cloak-and-dagger activities. This included presenting partisan leaders like Sukhjinder Randhawa as ‘whistle blowers’ to the Election Commission.
Dr Cheema Slams Randhawa’s Complaint, Defends SAD Election in SGPC Hall
Dr Cheema also chided Randhawa. He requested that his complaint be kept secret. However, he simultaneously gave interviews to the media on the same subject. He explained that the complaint was about holding the election in the Teja Singh Samundri Hall. The Hall is part of the administrative block of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). It is also a tradition to hold the election of the SAD president in the Hall. “The SAD has also taken permission to hold the meeting in the Hall in advance”, the Akali leader added.
Dr Cheema made it clear. He stated that such desperate politically motivated attempts to sabotage the organization’s elections of the SAD would not succeed. “The delegate session will elect the new President of the party on April 12. This event will be followed by a massive political conference on April 13”.
The SAD leader said the rebel group had earlier aligned with the BJP to damage the SAD. “Now also Sukhjinder Randhawa has been approached to file a complaint with the Election Commission as part of this conspiracy. Earlier, rebel group leader Manpreet Ayali showed his true colours. He colluded with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Vidhan Sabha. They demanded that the rules and regulations for the appointment of the Jathedar should be determined by the State assembly. This was asserted by Dr Cheema.”
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