Cong, SAD to hold parallel functions

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 29

A day after CM Capt Amarinder deputed minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot to represent the government at a state-level function on the death anniversary of Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s on April 1, the SGPC and SAD will hold a parallel function at Gurdwara Bahadurgarh.

This would be the first political event since SAD’s drubbing in the recent polls. Sukhbir Badal and senior leaders will attent the event. Committee chief Kirpal Singh Badungar will also address the gathering. A meeting of circle level leaders of SAD will be held on March 30 at Bahadargarh.

Tohra was SGPC chief for over two decades. He was one of the top Panthic leaders within the SAD.

Amarinder had on Tuesday ordered necessary arrangements to commemorate the event as a mark of respect to the legendary Sikh leader. “Since the CM has some prior official engagements on the day, he has deputed Dharamsot to attend the function,” a party spokesman said.

In August, 2016, Harmail Singh and his wife, Kuldeep Kaur Tohra, had joined the Aam Aadmi Party, after being sidelined by the SAD. Kuldeep is the adopted daughter of the Tohra, who famously fell out with then CM Parkash Singh Badal in 1998.

At that time, Harmail was one of the five ministers who quit the Badal cabinet. Kuldeep Kaur had contested unsuccessfully on the AAP ticket in the recent Vidhan Sabha polls from Sanaur.