Akali leader says he had nothing to do with son joining BJP

A day after his son and daughter-in-law joined BJP, lSAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal removed Maluka as the Maur constituency incharge

Sikander Singh Maluka interacting with the mediapersons at Talwandi Sabo on Friday evening.

In a surprising turn of events, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader, Sikander Singh Maluka, expressed his disapproval after his daughter-in-law, Parampal Kaur Sidhu, and son, Gurpreet Singh Maluka, joined the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP). Maluka revealed that he had advised them against joining the BJP but respected their right to make their own decisions.

During an informal interaction with the media at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, Maluka stated, “I had advised them not to join BJP, but it was their own decision. They both are adults and hence, I cannot comment upon their decision.”

When questioned about his political allegiance in light of his family’s move, Maluka stated that he remains with the Shiromani Akali Dal for now, but his future actions will be decided in due course. He emphasized that the decision to join BJP was solely his family members’, and he maintained his stance as an Akali member.

However, the repercussions were swift within the SAD party hierarchy. Late Thursday evening, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal removed Maluka as the Maur constituency incharge and appointed former SAD minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon in his place.

Reacting to his removal, Maluka acknowledged Sukhbir Singh Badal’s authority in the matter, stating, “It is the decision of pradhanji (Sukhbir Singh Badal), so what can I say about it. He is the president of the party…he can remove or appoint anyone.”Despite his family’s alignment with the BJP, Maluka clarified that he remains the chairperson of SAD’s disciplinary committee, indicating no immediate changes in his official position within the party.

In response to queries about his potential defection to the BJP, Maluka affirmed his current allegiance to the Akali Dal, deflecting speculation about his future political moves.

Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a 2011 batch IAS officer, submitted her resignation on April 3, and despite conflicting reports regarding its acceptance, she officially joined the BJP on April 11.

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