DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today expelled Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member from this city ? Bibi Harjinder Kaur from the primary membership of the party for indulging in anti-party activities with immediate effect.

A decision to this effect was taken by the party's secretary general S Balwinder Singh Bhundur following a number of complaints from the SAD's Chandigarh unit that Bibi Harjinder Kaur was willfully sabotaging the party in the union territory by unilaterally supporting the candidature of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sanjay Tandon.

The secretary general said he had received video evidence of the anti-party activities of Bibi Harjinder Kaur and was compelled to take this drastic step to send out a clear signal that the SAD would not tolerate such unethical conduct on the part of the SGPC member. Mr Bhundur said this was not the first time that the SGPC member had gone against the principles of the party.

"Earlier also we had received complaints that Bibi Harjinder had compromised with the BJP and had even received important posts in lieu of extending support to the saffron party. However we gave her a long rope in the hope that she would realize her mistakes and conduct and return to the panthic fold wholeheartedly. However this time the SGPC member has crossed a line by openly campaigning for the BJP candidate in Chandigarh. By doing so she has not only gone against the party line but also disrespected the sentiments of Punjabis as well as the Sikh community who are aggrieved at the anti-farmer stand taken by the union government as well as its refusal to release the Bandi Singhs who have completed their life sentences yet remain incarcerated in jail for more than 26 to 28 years. It also does not behove a senior leader like Bibi Harjinder to get affected by inducements and go against the core philosophy of her party".

Bhundur made it clear that the decision to expel Bibi Harjinder Kaur had been taken after due consideration and consultation with the Chandigarh unit of the party. "I have held discussions with the complainants as well as senior office bearers of the Chandigarh unit who have unanimously urged me to take this step in the interest of the party and its supporters in the union territory. I have received reports that the BJP is offering inducements to party leaders to switch sides during the ongoing parliamentary election".
(editor@dailyworld.in)