SAD suspends Manpreet Badal

With Manpreet’s suspension,Sukhbir has effectively put the ball in the court of his father and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on his removal from the Cabinet or a change in portfolio. Badal,who suffered minor injuries after a fall at his residence,is still in the PGI and was not available for comments.

After the meeting,Disciplinary Committee Chairman Ranjit Singh Brahampura said,“We have given three recommendations to party President Sukhbir Singh Badal – first,that Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal should be suspended from the party; second,that he be issued a show-cause notice as he has been indulging in anti-party activities and that he has to appear before the Disciplinary Committee on October 20 and explain his anti-party activities; thirdly,that he be told that he should not give any statements at any forum including the media as that would be considered anti-party activity.”

Party spokesman Daljeet Cheema said that the recommendations of the Committee were immediately sent to party President Sukhbir Badal,who took the decision and suspended Manpreet from the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Committee has the power to give recommendations and the final decision is to be taken by the party president. Sources said that,technically,a suspended Manpreet can remain FM as ministers work at the the pleasure of the Chief Minister but,morally,he should resign if the party suspends him.

Sukhbir Singh Badal had last week constituted the five-member Disciplinary Committee comprising of Ranjit Singh Brahmpura ,Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa,Gurdev Singh Badal,Tota Singh and Balwinder Singh Bhunder. Manpreet had claimed that two of the panel members,Brahmpura and Gurdev,were inimical to him.