'Rebel' Akali leaders for implementing Jhunda panel report, hold meeting

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 9

The rebellion brewing in the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) over drubbing of the party in the 2022 Assembly poll took a new turn yesterday.

On Monday, various party leaders held a meeting at the residence of Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon, son of former Speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon, to impress upon SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal to implement the recommendations of the Iqbal Singh Jhunda committee, which was formed to analyse the reasons for poor show during the Vidhan Sabha elections.

Those who attended the meeting included former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, incumbent MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Commitee general secretary Karnail Singh Panjoli, former Deputy Speaker of Lok Sabha Charanjit Singh Atwal, former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar, former MLAs Gurpratap Singh Wadala, Amarpal Singh Boney, Bhai Manjit Singh, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Indrikbal Singh Atwal and Jagjit Singh Kohli.

The leaders said they would meet Sukhbir in the coming days and would discuss the strategy to strengthen the regional party by implementing the recommendations of the Jhunda panel.

They also favoured change of leadership in 114 Assembly segments, fixed term for SAD president and separate body for the SGPC.

Notably, Ayali has been meeting senior leaders to draw their attention towards the party’s dwindling graph in the state.

While Sukhbir had announced his support for the NDA candidate Droupadi Murmu during the Presidential poll, Ayali had boycotted the election.

He had alleged that he was not consulted by the party chief and issues related to Punjab remained unresolved.

Sources said one of the leaders even went on to add that Sukhbir should not desist from stepping down to save the party.

Will work for welfare of masses

• Prem Singh Chandumajra on Tuesday welcomed the call given by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to the SAD leaders to shun lust for power
• He said the Akalis would work for the welfare of the masses as the AAP and the Congress had failed to ensure the state’s permanent membership in BBMB

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