This press release is being issued to throw light on the currently hazy (or muddled up) picture of America Akali Dal and to present programs of North America Akali Dal (NAAD). During telephone conversation on July 12, 1996 between Dr. Sukhminder Singh, President of NAAD and S. Prakash Singh Badal, Mr. Badal clearly said that no new president of American Akali Dal has been appointed by the Shromani Akali Dal. It may be recalled that a similar answer was given by Badal to Mr. Kuldip Singh Wadala when Wadala had called Badal on the telephone. News to this effect was published by World Sikh News (June 28JulyS, 1996). Any concerned person can verify this truth by directly calling to Badal.

Asa follow up of the big meeting held on June 23, 1996 at Sikh Temple Crothers, California where it was almost a unanimous opinion of the gathering of very important personalities of Caledonia that the old America Akali Dal be revived. On the basis of telephone conversation with Badal of July 12, 1996 and suggestions thereof the continuity of the Old Akali Dal, Ni America Akali Dal has drawn up the following programs:

  1. Plan to hold international Akali Conferences in future. The plan is to try to hold one conference in California and one in Chicago. The main objective of the conferences is to give concrete shape to the “Aims” of NAAD. 1. To coordinate efforts to help Pune progress in the fields of Engineering and Technology, Medicine, Agriculture and Economics fields. 2. To interact with Shromani Akali Dal with suggestions on religious, political and economic matters for panthic greatness. 3. To promote and disseminate information on Sikhism in North America.
  2. According to the above mentioned first aim and in view of the current climate in Punjab and. India where economic liberalization is in progress and the political liberalization not far behind, including building up of pressure for some form of state autonomy by other states, the following Consulting Boards have been formed. (1) Engineering & Technology Board. (2) Medical Board, (3) Agricultural Board. (4) Intercontinental Economics Coordination Board. Canada USANAAD has four regional vice presidents and seven Chapters (New York, New Jersey, Washington, D€, Chicago, California), Finally, I wish to state that NAAD harbors no ill will against anybody. I wish good for all and would like to find a common denominator amongst Sikhs though of different opinions to bring back some form of cohesiveness for capitalizing on the present climate that exist in India and here outside of India for redressing our genuine rights and demands.

Sukhminder Singh, President North American Akali Dal

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 17, 1996