Amritsar, November 8
While the battle lines have been drawn for the coveted post of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has appealed to ‘expelled’ party leader Bibi Jagir Kaur to review her decision to contest against party’s official candidate Harjinder Singh Dhami.
Sukhbir Badal was here to hold a meeting with the SGPC members to gauge their mood prior to the polls for president, office-bearers and executive body for the next annual term. The members’ meeting has been scheduled at Teja Singh Samundri Hall tomorrow.
He also blamed the BJP-led Centre and state AAP government of unduly interfering in the Sikh religious affairs and attempting to wrest control of SGPC to weaken the SAD.
Giving a piece of advice to Bibi Jagir Kaur, he asked her not to stab at the back of the SAD at the behest of ‘outside’ parties, but contribute in strengthening the SGPC and the SAD, as she had been doing earlier.
“I urge Bibi ji to still rethink on her move in the morning and let Dhami Saheb win unanimously. I appeal to her to not stab at the back of SAD at the behest of Centre government and ‘outside’ parties and agencies which would result in damage to the Sikh Panth,” he said.
When asked about how challenging would Bibi be for the SAD candidate and how many members came up openly to support Dhami, he refrained from divulging the number of members.
“I don’t see her (Bibi) as a challenge. I held a detailed discussion with the members who were all set to support Dhami Saheb. I believe he will secure a historic win,” he said.
SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema said what more proof of BJP-RSS interference in Sikh issues was required when Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has been openly telling Haryana SGPC members to come in support of Bibi.
On the other hand, former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur is fully confident of her win this time too. She believed that around 90 members have already shown solidarity with her. “This number could be more by morning. Most of them were hesitant to come out openly for fear of ‘backlash’ from the party leadership. It has been a routine that any member who raised voice or pointed out wrong moves of the party faced ejection,” she said.
She said that she was expelled ‘unconstitutionally’ from SAD by leaders who don’t know how she worked in strengthening the roots of the party.
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