Giving a clarion to the Akali Dal factions to unite and put up a strong political front, Punjab's BJP president Sunil Jakhar Sunday said that a "strong regional party is a necessity, not just for the panth (Sikh community), but for the entire nation." Echoing his views, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal also said that Dhindsa also wanted to see a "united Akali Dal for the sake of Punjab and its people." Paying tributes to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) veteran Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa at his prayer meeting in Sangrur, Jakhar said that all Akali factions should shun their differences, ego and unite for the sake of the panth, Punjab and the country. Dhindsa died on May 28 following age-related health issues at a private hospital in Mohali. He was 89. "A strong panthic party is not just a necessity for the Panth, the community, the state of Punjab but also for the nation. All Akali factions should set aside their egos and unite for the community's interests, stepping forward for the Panth and Punjab. That would be a true tribute to Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa," said Jakhar. "It must also be kept in mind that due to internal differences, Punjab’s great heritage should not be usurped by others, lest the Panth, the community, and Punjab have to bear the consequences," he added, while addressing the gathering which included politicians from across the party lines. Jakhar further said: "The true tribute to Dhindsa would be to safeguard and preserve the ideology he stood on for his entire life. For him, the issues of qaum (community) and panth were his priority. We have to unite and save our Punjab which is the land of Gurus. I appeal to all with folded hands, that a strong, united panthic party is not just a necessity for the panth or Punjab but the country also needs it. Please keep your differences aside and unite. Punjab may have to see black days again if outsiders will take over." The BJP and Punjab's oldest 100-year-old regional party Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), had ended its over two-decade alliance in 2020 over the three farm laws. Even as the contentious farm laws were later rolled back by the BJP-led Centre, the alliance failed to stitch again. Currently, the SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal is facing a major challenge from a group of dissidents including senior leaders such as Manpreet Singh Ayali, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Iqbal Singh Jhundan, Santa Singh Umedpur, Jagir Kaur among others. Also, there are several splinter groups of the Akali Dal such as SAD (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann, Akali Dal Waris Punjab De led by jailed Member Parliament Amritpal Singh etc. Dhindsa had also turned rebel while questioning the leadership of Badals and had constituted his own SAD (Democratic), which he had later merged with another SAD veteran late Ranjit Singh Brahampura's SAD (Taksali), and together they had formed SAD (Sanyukt). However, Dhindsa was again back to SAD-led by Badals before being expelled again for alleged "anti-party activities". In 2007 and 2012, SAD-BJP alliance had stormed to power in Punjab for two consecutive terms with Parkash Singh Badal as the CM, and son Sukhbir his deputy. Since 2017 when Congress came to power in Punjab, followed by AAP in 2022, SAD has been largely decimated from state's political picture. Currently, it has just 3 MLAs in 117-member Vidhan Sabha of which one has turned rebel and another has joined AAP. Former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal is the only SAD MP in Lok Sabha from Bathinda. Meanwhile, addressing the gathering, SAD president and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, also called for unity among Akalis and said that this what late Dhindsa had also expressed days before he passed away. Remembering other Akali veterans including his father (and five-time Punjab chief minister) late Parkash Singh Badal, (former chief minister) late Surjit Singh Barnala and former SGPC presidents late Gurcharan Singh Tohra and late Jagdev Singh Talwandi, Sukhbir said that there "was and cannot be any comparison between veteran Akali leadership and the current one." "These veterans including Wadde Badal saab (Parkash Singh Badal), Talwandi, Barnala, Tohra, Dhindsa lived and died for the panth and Punjab. They served people for their entire lives. Being a regional party, Akali Dal had to undergo several challenges and struggles and these veterans endured everything for the sake of Punjab and people. They were jailed, they led agitations for Punjab's rights. My father served people for over 70 years while others also did for 50-60 years. They never cared for their personal lives and families. The passion they had to serve people is largely missing in today's leadership. We need to learn a lot from their lives and sacrifices," said Sukhbir. Sukhbir said that just a few days ago he had met Dhindsa, and he too had expressed his wish to see Akali Dal united. "Even then he told me that "Sukhbir, please unite our party, our panth." Only then we can serve people. For the sake of Punjab, he wanted to see Akali Dal united," said Sukhbir. Dhindsa's son and Punjab's former finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa said that his father loved every party worker like his own child. Among other senior politicians who attended Dhindsa's prayer meet were Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, BJP's national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Congress's Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress's Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, AAP's Sangrur MP Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, AAP state president Aman Arora among others. However, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann did not attend Dhindsa's prayer meet. He sent a condolence message saying that Akali veteran's passing was a big loss for Punjab and his contribution as union minister of sports will always be remembered.
