Dhindsa: Won’t quit SAD, but want democratic set-up

Chandigarh, December 12

Ahead of the 99th foundation anniversary celebrations of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), all eyes are on former Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa on whether he would join his father and Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa in the function being organised by rebel Akali leaders.

While Parminder Dhindsa, who is head of the SAD legislature party, has maintained silence on the issue, his father has said his son would attend the same functions he would take part in. “My son and I are on the same page,” he said.

Dhindsa insisted that there was no talk of leaving the SAD, but there was a demand for change in the way the party was being run.

“I want democracy back in the party. That is my only agenda,” he said. There are reports that the SAD leadership approached Parminder Singh Dhindsa, asking him to not attend the function of the rebels.

Last week, Taksali leaders, including Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Sewa Singh Sekhwan along with Ravi Inder Singh of the SAD (1920) met Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at his residence in Chanidgarh to invite him for their parallel function.

The disconnect

Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has raised several issues within the party forum in the past two years. He had refused to campaign for the party in the Lok Sabha elections and later, resigned from the post of leader of SAD legislature party in the Rajya Sabha.