JALLANDHAR: All the political activities of Akali Dal (Badal) have been indefinitely suspended following the resignation of the party president Parkash Singh Badal.

This was announced by the five member party presidium, constituted by Badal to manage the party affairs in his absence.

Speaking to media persons, the presidium members, Kuldip Singh Wadala Prakash Singh Majitha, Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Gurdev Singh Badal and Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said that Badal had gone underground and it was not possible to contact him. In the absence of the party president, the presidium felt incapable of functioning. Therefore, it had decided to suspend all party activities for an indefinite period.

The presidium said that the party’s executive body had endorsed Badal’ letter to the Akal Takht jathedar, However, they regretted those portions of the letter which had hurt his sentiments.

Replying to a question, the presidium members asserted that the party had not suspended its activity due to the fear of excommunication. They clarified that the temporary suspension of party activity would not affect the workers.

AMRITSAR: Heads of all the Akali factions barring Akali Dal (Badal) have sent their pledge letters to the acting Akal Takht Sathedar Manjit Singh expressing, “absolute commitment” to the Akal Takhi with a motive of forging Akali unity.

Talking to media persons, in his office in the Golden Temple complex here, last week, Manjit Singh said that those who placed their services at the Akal Takht’s disposal included Jagdey Singh Talwandiof Akali Dal (Talwandi), Simranjit Singh Mann president Akali Dal (Mann), Akali Dal (Kabul) president Kabul Singh and Surjit Singh Bamala, Babbar Akali Dal president KartarSingh Narang, Panthic Akali Dal president Amminder Singh and Akali Dal (Manjit) president Manjit Singh. He however, refused to comment on the development in the Akali ‘Dal (Badal) but added that he was still waiting for their pledge letter.

Many others including the presidents of Indian Minor ties and Dalit Front, Sikh Students Federation and youth wings of various Akali factions had also pledged their “absolute commitment to Akal Takht Jathedar in the interest of Panthic unity.’

The unity move was initiated at the culmination of second Khalsa march, on April 12, at Talwandi Sabo in Bhatinda district, when Manjit Singh demanded a pledge Totter from Akali factions.

The jathedar revealed that there was no time limit for anyone to join the unity move.

PATIALA: Dalit Akali Dal, at its meeting held here under the chairmanship of its president, Satwant Singh Mohi  has decided to empower the Akal Takht jathedar Manjit Singh to initiate steps to forge unity among various Akali factions.

The kedar quits post for unity LUDHIANA; senior vice president of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal), Surjan Singh Thekedar, ‘on Apnil25, resigned from his post and offered his services to the Akal Takht acting jathedar Manjit Singh.

 In a statement issued here, Thekedar said he took his step on an appeal made by the Takht for individual commitments and after the failure of party president Parkesh Singh Badal to appear at the highest temporal sent of Sikhism. He deplored that the presidium set up by Badal too had failed to tum up.

According to Thekedar, Badal’s step to constitute the presidium after having submitted his resignation on April 12 was also wrong.

The district unit of the party, led by Hira Singh Gabria, is also certain to offer its commitment to Akal Takht.

Article extracted from this publication >> April 29, 1994