Akali men pledge loyalty to party in writing at gurdwara
Panchayat polls: Loyalty forms submitted to ex-minister Langah at Dera Baba Nanak gurdwara
As it heads for the gram panchayat elections in Punjab,the ruling SAD seems to be not worried about the Congress. With the post of sarpanch and panchs in villages being hotly contested within the party owing to funds at disposal of panchayats,villagers affiliated to SAD are pledging loyalty to the party — in writing — at gurdwaras.
The “loyalty pledge” was submitted by villagers of Gurdaspur district’s Dera Baba Nanak block to former minister Sucha Singh Langah at a meeting in the gurdwara. Dated June 18,one such pledge reads: “We the residents of Muhal Nangal village have chosen Gurmeet Singh as our candidate for sarpanch. Keeping the almighty as witness,we pledge to remain loyal to the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) whether we lose or win the panchayat polls.” It ends with thumb impressions and signatures of villagers.
In a similar proforma — it has blank spaces for the names of the village and sarpanch — while villagers of Harko Gawal Khurd have nominated Jaspal Singh as their sarpanch candidate,for Kotli Veera village,it is Satbir Singh.
A video grab captured on a cellphone shows Langah telling partymen,“From each village,two to three candidates are coming to me seeking nomination for the sarpanch’s post. But only villages which show unity and elect the candidate unanimously will be bestowed higher grants on a priority basis.”
Langah is also seen telling his partymen: “We have decided not to reject nominations of Opposition candidates this time but ensure democracy in true sense in panchayat polls. Our president Sukhbir Badal has said we will rule for 25 years and the signs are there for all to see.” The video grab further showed the granthi at the gurdwara performing an ardas (prayer) by holding the “loyalty pledge” with villagers standing behind him.
Langah,when contacted,said at his meeting in the gurdwara,he was only asking villagers to elect sarpanchs and panchs unanimously to maintain unity within the villages. “We do not want the panchayat polls to create a divide in villages. People of Dera Baba Nanak are coming on their own to express solidarity for the party. There is no pressure on anyone to pledge one’s loyalty. In fact,we are trying to ensure grassroot democracy in the true sense. Earlier,50 to 70 per cent nominations of Opposition candidates were rejected. The figure of rejection this time is just four per cent,” he added.
Congress MLA from Dera Baba Nanak,Sukhjinder Randhawa,however,claimed the “loyalty pledge” shows that the SAD was trying to coerce its warring factions in villages to submission. “It has not happened in the history of panchayat elections that villagers are queuing up in a gurdwara holding such a proforma and asking the priest to perform ardas for party’s unity,” he said.
Randhawa also disputed Langah’s claim that nomination of Opposition candidates was not being rejected. “They are never too sure. On one hand,they are trying to keep rebels within party under leash and on the other,rejecting Opposition nominations. This shows their insecurity despite being the party in power,” he said.
Share
