M A I N   N E W S

BJP shares my views: Ravi Inder
Sant Samaj to announce support today

JALANDHAR, April 29 (UNI, PTI) — Dissident Akali Leader Ravi Inder Singh today said he had held parleys with the top RSS-BJP leadership as part of the “topple Badal” campaign he had launched in October last year.

But the ruling Akali party MLA said he was not at liberty to name the leaders he had been meeting.

Asked if the RSS-BJP leadership approved of his “topple Badal campaign,” Mr Ravi Inder Singh quipped: “Why should I disclose it now?” But he claimed that the RSS-BJP leadership was not happy with the performance of the Badal government .

Mr Ravi Inder Singh said it was not without significance that Punjab BJP unit President Daya Singh Sodhi had stated last year that his party had an alliance with the ruling Akali Dal and not with any individual. Asked if the BJP high command also held a similar view, he said: “There is a similarity of views between the state and central leaders of the BJP”.

“I met top BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister L.K. Advani and leaders of the RSS and other sister organisations of the BJP recently. We discussed the current state of affairs in Punjab where the economy is a shambles and corruption at an all-time high. There was a similarity of views,” Mr Ravi Inder said.

He said he had held a meeting with the influential Sant Samaj chief, Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, and got a good response. “The Sant Samaj is holding a meeting tomorrow at Ludhiana and it has invited me. The message is clear,” he said.

Sources close to the dissident camp said the Sant Samaj, peeved with Mr Badal for allegedly violating Sikh traditions and denigrating the institution of Akal Takht, has already endorsed Mr Ravi Inder’s efforts and may declare support for him at tomorrow’s rally at its headquarters in Jodhan-Manssoran village in Ludhiana.

Asked about the offensive launched by the ruling Akali Dal against dissident legislators in the shape of petitions to the Speaker for action against them under the anti-defection law, Mr Ravi Inder Singh said Mr Badal was feeling “shaky’’ and clutching on to the last straw through such measures.

“He wants to scare the MLAs but various courts have made the law very clear through different case judgements and action under the Anti-Defection Act can be taken only if an MP or MLA disobeys a party whip. Even Mr Lalpura expelled by the Akali Dal continues to be officially an Akali MLA,’’ he argued.

Asked if his campaign was limited only to toppling Mr Parkash Singh Badal or it extended to becoming Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr Ravi Inder Singh said since SAD alone had majority of 75 MLAs in a House of 117 , my objective is to become leader of the Akali Legislature Party’’. When told he required the support of 38 MLAs to replace Mr Badal, he said he was aiming at the support of more than 40 MLAs.

The dissident Akali leader said except the Congress, no political party, including the BJP, was untouchable for him in achieving his objective.

Akali Dal (Democratic) President Kuldip Singh Wadala and Akali Dal (Panthic) President Jasbir Singh Rode, who were present during Mr Ravi Inder Singh’s interface with mediapersons at the residence of Mr Rode, reiterated their support to the dissident Akali leader.

Mr Wadala said: “We can influence MLAs of the ruling Akali Dal in rallying behind Mr Ravi Inder Singh’’.

Mr Ravi Inder Singh said most Akali MLAs knew it would be difficult for them to win another election under Mr Badal’s leadership given, what he claimed, “the unpopularity of the Badals as a family”.

CM pre-judging issue: Ravi Inder

JALANDHAR, April 29 (PTI) — Dissident Akali leader Ravi Inder Singh and two major Akali factions today took objection to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s reported statement that there was no need for a CBI probe into the death of the teenage daughter of SGPC chief, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and said it amounted to pre-judging the issue even when the matter was before the court.

“Badal’s statement is a clear disrespect to the court. He has no right to pre-judge an issue which is before the High Court,” Mr Ravi Inder and Presidents of the Akali Dal (Democratic) and Akali Dal (Panthic), said here today.

Mr Ravi Inder said Mr Badal had reportedly said no mother could wish “doom” for her daughter, thus giving a clean chit to Bibi Jagir Kaur, whose daughter Harpreet Kaur died under mysterious circumstances on April 21.

Mr Wadala said Mr Badal should, in fact, have welcomed the demand for a CBI probe as it would help clear doubts.