Aliwal resigns from SAD post in protest

CHANDIGARH, Nov 29: Amrik Singh Aliwal, president of the youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal and a Member of Parliament, today resigned fr...

CHANDIGARH, Nov 29: Amrik Singh Aliwal, president of the youth wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal and a Member of Parliament, today resigned from the party post in protest against the dissolution of the executive body of the wing.

Releasing a letter written to party president, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a press conference here, Aliwal said that Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, general secretary of the party, had not taken him into confidence before dissolving the youth wing. Terming Dhindsa8217;s action as undemocratic, Aliwal said that dissolution would create dissensions in the party. A convention of the youth activists had been called at Jalandhar on December 4, in which the workers would decide whether to accept the resignation of Aliwal or not.Aliwal criticised the handling of the tercentenary celebrations during which had hurt Akal Takht Jathedar Ranjit Singh and also led to the resignation of Barjinder Singh Hamdard, president of the executive of the Anandpur Sahib Foundation.

The former vice-president of the youth wing, Gurinder Pal Singh Dhanula told mediapersons that he, along with a large number of party workers, would decide the fate of the youth wing on the December 4 convention.

Meanwhile, Dhindsa, who dissolved the youth wing of the Akalis on November 27, would hold a meeting of youth leaders on December 4.

SANGRUR: Differences among Union Minister Surjit Singh Barnala and SAD Secretary General touched a flashpoint last evening in Gurdwara Singh Sabha here. This time the provocation was the outcome of the Adampur bye-election.About 250 youths led by Jaswinder Singh Manti-recently appointed president of the district youth wing by Dhindsa-pounced upon 90 workers from the Barnala faction holding a meeting at the Gurdwara. Led by the district youth wing president, Pritpal Singh they were waiting for Amrik Singh Aliwal MP and president of the all India youth wing of SAD to seek recognition. But, guessing their intention, Dhindsa swung into action before Aliwal could reach Sangrur.

The desperate workers led by Manti evicted them from the Gurdwara premises. Manti presided over the meeting in which they accused Surjit Singh Barnala of annoying the farmers which is their vote bank over the distress procurement of paddy and DAP shortage. They demanded Barnala8217;s resignation and urged the party high command to remove him from his ministerial berthThey charged Barnala of granting an licence to export rice to his own son, tarnishing the image of the party. They demanded stringent action against him for his anti-party activities They accused Surjit Singh Barnala and his wife Surjit Kaur Barnala who claims to be the president of the Istri Akali Dal for instigating their henchmen to hold a protest march for political gains.

Youth workers of Barnala faction again held a meeting in the Gurdwara hall after the Dhindsa faction left. They decided to constitute the working committee of Youth Wing under the patronage of Badal, Barnala and Tohra.