Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], The Shiromani Akal Dal is facing a crisis after senior leaders including Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Bidi Jagir Kaur among others launched a revolt against party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, demanding a change in leadership after the party's defeat. a severe beating in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Some party leaders held a meeting in Jalandhar to demand Badal's resignation. However, some other Akali Dal leaders continue to trust Badal.
Rebel leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa yesterday held a meeting in Jalandhar in which workers and senior leaders openly expressed their views to revive the party.
Dhindsa said leaders and workers have expressed concern over the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, in which out of the 13 parliamentary states in Punjab, the SAD managed to win only one seat. The Bathinda Lok Sabha seat was retained by Badal's wife Harsimrat.
According to former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur, whenever they tried to discuss something with Badal, he would not listen to them.
"There was a discussion about what we have lost and gained in recent times. All SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) supporters are worried about how to get out of the situation we are in. We have tried to talk to the party chief (Sukhbir Singh Badal) but he never listens to us. He doesn't try to rectify the shortcomings. So everyone thought that if SAD is to be strengthened, then we should all sit together and discuss... We are worried why "People of Punjab don't accept us. We will go to the Akal Takht Sahib on July 1 and ask for forgiveness for the losses suffered due to our silence,” Kaur told ANI.
Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema, in a press conference yesterday, said the SAD is analyzing and introspecting the comments.
"In a democracy, there is always a difference of opinion. If one or two people have a different opinion, then it is not a revolt, but there is a system. Party analysis and introspection are still going on."
Cheema said a meeting of the party's working committee will be held today.
"If you express your opinion before the meeting, then that becomes doubtful. It seems planned in advance. It seems as if you were not interested in the improvement or elevation of the party and you said something just because you wanted to. Otherwise, there was a "We have what to expect They should have participated and listened to what others had to say. After that, they could have presented their views,” Cheema said.
Speaking to ANI yesterday, Cheema said: "We are reviewing the reasons behind our performance in the Lok Sabha elections... SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had earlier stated that if the party wanted, he would leave office. president, but all the district presidents and electoral officials refused... SAD is a very strong and disciplined party and we hope that the party will advance strongly..."
SAD party central committee member Balwinder Singh Bhundal, who held another meeting to support Sukhbir Singh Badal, said 99 per cent of the members support him.
"The way workers attended today's meeting shows that 99 per cent of Akali Dal members are on the side of party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party chief does not change at the behest of a few people" said Bhundal.
Bhundal further said that there was no question of forming any alliance with the BJP in future.
"Neither now nor in the future will we make any compromise with the BJP. We will not take any action against those who try to show their solidarity by separating from the party. Our elders have built this party by making sacrifices. There is no need to separate those who are already talking about separate from the party or leave. It is their own wish and freedom,” the senior Akali Dal leader said.
Some party leaders held a meeting in Jalandhar to demand Badal's resignation. However, some other Akali Dal leaders continue to trust Badal.
Rebel leader Parminder Singh Dhindsa yesterday held a meeting in Jalandhar in which workers and senior leaders openly expressed their views to revive the party.
Dhindsa said leaders and workers have expressed concern over the defeat in the Lok Sabha elections, in which out of the 13 parliamentary states in Punjab, the SAD managed to win only one seat. The Bathinda Lok Sabha seat was retained by Badal's wife Harsimrat.
According to former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Bibi Jagir Kaur, whenever they tried to discuss something with Badal, he would not listen to them.
"There was a discussion about what we have lost and gained in recent times. All SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) supporters are worried about how to get out of the situation we are in. We have tried to talk to the party chief (Sukhbir Singh Badal) but he never listens to us. He doesn't try to rectify the shortcomings. So everyone thought that if SAD is to be strengthened, then we should all sit together and discuss... We are worried why "People of Punjab don't accept us. We will go to the Akal Takht Sahib on July 1 and ask for forgiveness for the losses suffered due to our silence,” Kaur told ANI.
Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema, in a press conference yesterday, said the SAD is analyzing and introspecting the comments.
"In a democracy, there is always a difference of opinion. If one or two people have a different opinion, then it is not a revolt, but there is a system. Party analysis and introspection are still going on."
Cheema said a meeting of the party's working committee will be held today.
"If you express your opinion before the meeting, then that becomes doubtful. It seems planned in advance. It seems as if you were not interested in the improvement or elevation of the party and you said something just because you wanted to. Otherwise, there was a "We have what to expect They should have participated and listened to what others had to say. After that, they could have presented their views,” Cheema said.
Speaking to ANI yesterday, Cheema said: "We are reviewing the reasons behind our performance in the Lok Sabha elections... SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal had earlier stated that if the party wanted, he would leave office. president, but all the district presidents and electoral officials refused... SAD is a very strong and disciplined party and we hope that the party will advance strongly..."
SAD party central committee member Balwinder Singh Bhundal, who held another meeting to support Sukhbir Singh Badal, said 99 per cent of the members support him.
"The way workers attended today's meeting shows that 99 per cent of Akali Dal members are on the side of party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. The party chief does not change at the behest of a few people" said Bhundal.
Bhundal further said that there was no question of forming any alliance with the BJP in future.
"Neither now nor in the future will we make any compromise with the BJP. We will not take any action against those who try to show their solidarity by separating from the party. Our elders have built this party by making sacrifices. There is no need to separate those who are already talking about separate from the party or leave. It is their own wish and freedom,” the senior Akali Dal leader said.
