M A I N   N E W S

SAD expels three ex-ministers, MLA
Show-cause notice to 2 others
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Jan 16 — The Shiromani Akali Dal’s Disciplinary Committee, at an unscheduled meeting held here late this evening, expelled three former Ministers and one MLA from the primary membership of the party and also issued show-cause notice to two other MLAs.

A party spokesman said that Mr Harmel Singh Tohra, who is MLA from Dakala, Mr Maheshinder Singh Grewal, MLA from Ludhiana, Mr Inderjit Singh Zira, MLA from Zira and Mrs Daljit Kaur, MLA from Kharar have been expelled from the primary membership of the SAD. All four are staunch supporters of former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra.

Mr Harmel Singh, Mr Grewal and Mr Zira were Ministers in the Badal Cabinet, but resigned in the wake of Mr Tohra’s removal as SGPC chief.

The Disciplinary Committee also served show-cause notices on Mr Baldev Singh Khiala, MLA from Joga constituency and Mr Ranjit Singh Chajjalwadi, MLA for anti-party activities.

They have been asked to submit their reply in 15 days. Both Mr Baldev Singh Khiala and Mr Ranjit Singh are identified with Mr Ravi Inder Singh, a former Speaker, who was suspended from the primary membership of the SAD a few days ago who was also allegedly expelled for anti-party activities.

The party spokesman said that those expelled from the primary membership of the party were issued show-cause notices a few months ago for their anti-party activities. Their replies were found unsatisfactory and hence they were expelled from the party membership.

Earlier in the day a meeting of the political affairs committee was held under the chairmanship of Mr Badal. There was no indication about the disciplinary action against any one. In fact, the SAD in its official press note had stated that the meeting of the disciplinary committee would be held tomorrow. However, the spokesman said it was inadvertently stated in the press note that the meeting would be held tomorrow whereas it was to be held in the evening.

The meeting of the disciplinary committee was presided over by Mr Jagdev Singh Talwandi and all members were present according to the spokesman.

Informed political sources said Mr Badal asked the disciplinary committee to expedite the action against the MLAs.

Interestingly no action has been taken against Mr S.S. Kohli and Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, who are also in the Tohra camp. They had also resigned from the Badal ministry following a split in the party. Perhaps, Mr Badal’s disciplinary committee has tried to create confusion in Mr Tohra’s camp by being selective on the expulsion issue. Mr Harmel Singh is a son-in-law of Mr Tohra.

The Tribune had yesterday reported that party MLAs opposed to Mr Badal were holding regular meetings after the Cabinet expansion. Atleast two meetings were held on Thursday and Friday respectively, at the residence of a senior SAD leader.

Mr Badal, who had gone to attend Maghi Mela at Muktsar had got a wind of holding of such meetings and had rushed back to Chandigarh on January 14. The former SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, was scheduled to meet the Punjab Governor on the same day. However, Mr Tohra did not turn up for the meeting with the Governor, perhaps, he was held up in Muktsar due to late conclusion of his party’s meeting.

The action against four MLAs and the show-cause notice to two others should be seen in the light of meetings held in recent days by the dissident MLAs to formulate their strategy against Mr Badal.

It was expected that the political scene in the state would hot up after the cabinet expansion. Dissident MLAs were expecting addition in their ranks as those who had not found berth in the ministry would turn against Mr Badal.

Already, Mr Mantar Singh Brar, an Independent MLA, from Kotkapura had expressed his anger against the Chief Minister’s son Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal. Mr Brar had joined the SAD a few months ago. Another MLA, Mr Balwant Singh Shahpur from Amloh recently stayed away from Chief Minister’s function.

Will Mr Badal be able to contain rebellion in the party by taking such a drastic step like expelling MLAs from the primary membership of the party? This was also debated in the party earlier when Mr Ravi Inder Singh was suspended. Then Mr Surjit Singh Barnala a former Chief Minister, had urged all concerned that the party should “assimilate and not eliminate” leaders.

It is significant to mention here that Mr Barnala has stayed away from all key political conferences of the SAD held in the recent past.

Meanwhile at a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal here today authorised Mr Badal, to take a decision on the party’s candidate for the Nawanshahr Assembly byelection.

The meeting, according to Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, secretary, SAD, discussed the party’s strategy for the poll.

It welcomed the decision of the Centre to set up a new commission to probe the 1984 carnage against Sikhs. In a resolution, it said that “the inhuman carnage was planned and carried out by leading figures of the Congress with the then government actively assisting it.” The SAD rejected the findings of the previous commission set up by the Congress describing these as mere “eyewash”.