JALANDHAR: The Sant Samaj and the Damdami Taksal have decided to set up a rival Shiromani Akali Dal almed at cleansing Akali politics from the” influence” of the main stream Akali leaders.
Announcing this al a press conference here, Mohkam Singh of the Damdami Taksal who is also a member of the seven member committee constituted by the Sant Samaj to formulate guidelines for reforming Akali politics, said that a decision to this effect had been reached at a meeting: of the committee held here and after consultations with Baba Takhur Singh, chief of the Taksal and the Sant Samaj president Sarabjot Singh Bedi. The organizational structure of the new organization will be announced at a huge conference to be held on April 6 which will be preceded by two training camps on April 2 and 3 to motivate people to become members of the new Dal.
‘The aim of the new party will be to fill the “leadership vacuum” with personalities committed to the interests of the Panth so as to provide a substitute for the traditional Akalis.
According to a press note issued here by the leaders, it was stated that the new party will establish a grassroots set up Comprising of those workers sympathetic to Panthic goals and membership will be open to all those committed to the party’s goals pastes belonging to any
Community.
The party’s president will not be eligible to contest and will be elected for a period of two years each president will only be allowed to Serve two terms. The party`s head office will be an Acute Yi Sob offices at Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Bathinda. The party’s Constitution will be based on the Alkali Dal first formed in 1920 and suitable amendments will be made in it if necessary. All the members of the: new Akali Dal is supposed to declare their assets which will be open for public scrutiny.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 20, 1996
