Jalandhar, January 12
Media Advisor of SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia and Spokesperson of the Damdami Taksal and Prof Sarchand Singh, along with five other prominent SAD leaders, today joined the BJP in the presence of Union cabinet minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the party’s main election office in Jalandhar.
This comes as a major setback for the SAD days ahead of the 2022 elections. The leaders have joined the party days after SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia was granted bail in the ongoing drugs case – for which an FIR had been lodged against him.
Along with central Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Sekhawat, union cabinet minister Som Parkash, Lok Sabha MP Hans Raj Hans, BJP’s state general secretary Jeevan Gupta among others were also present on the occasion.
Notably, while the recent declaration of the Prime Minister to observe December 26 as “Veer Baal Diwas” was widely condemned by various Sikh bodies, Damdami Taksal was one of the few prominent Sikh organisations, which hailed the decision even as the SGPC itself condemned it. Head of the Damadami Taksal, Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma, had hailed the decision. Prof Sarchand is also the press secretary of Baba Harnam Singh. The Damdami Taksal is a Sikh educational organisation and a prominent voice on panthic issues in the state, which was once headed by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.
Among other SAD leaders who joined the BJP today include Didar Singh Bhatti former MLA and 10-year Halka Incharge Fatehgarh Sahib and his son Gurvinder SIngh Bhatti, member of the current core group of the Shiromani Kali Dal; Akali leader Sardar Satwant Singh Mohi, former MLA; Rajpal Chauhan, President, SAD Sports Wing and Amritpal Singh Dalli, Zone President Student Organisation of India Shiromani Akali Dal. Dalli is grandnephew of recently expelled senior Akali leader Mohinder Kaur Josh. Josh is three-times MLA from Sham Chaurasi. Dalli is the son of Josh’s sister. All these leaders are members of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Some of them had been miffed with the SAD after recent ticket denials.
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