M A I N   N E W S

SAD men may oppose Bibi’s name
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Oct 30 — Even as Mr Parkash Singh Badal, President, Shiromani Akali Dal, has announced that the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the party would decide on the candidature of the next president of the SGPC, some members of the committee (PAC) are likely to oppose the name of Bibi Jagir Kaur for contesting the election, which has to be held before November 30.

Some members are reportedly annoyed with the SGPC chief as she had already defied the directive of the PAC for appearing before Akal Takht when Giani Puran Singh, the then Jathedar, Akal Takht, had ‘excommunicated’ her from the Sikh Panth. On February 25, Mr Badal also met Giani Puran Singh at the latter’s residence here to defuse the ‘SGPC-Akal Takht’ stand off and promised to direct the SGPC chief to appear before Akal Takht. Instead, Bibi Jagir Kaur defied the ‘hukmnana’ and offered ‘parsad’ at Akal Takht, on February 28, Giani Bhagwan Singh, Head Granthi , Akal Takht had performed the ‘ardas’. Though Giani Puran Singh had stated that “one day, Bibi Jagir Kaur will have to appear”, he (Giani Puran Singh) was saked on March 28.

The case registered by the CBI against the SGPC chief is said to be the main hurdle in clearing the name of Bibi Jagir Kaur for the coveted post. The ruling party may not like to take the risk of repeating her name as she will have to get exonerated by the CBI first.

However, the sources, say that the election for the SGPC chief will be a cake walk for the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal as Mr Gurcharn Singh Tohra, president, SHSAD, has categorically stated that his party won’t contest the election for the President of the SGPC. Mr Tohra admitted that his party did not have adequate number of SGPC members in the House. “I don’t want to contest the election for the sake of election. It is clear so far as Mr Badal remains the Chief Minister, we (SHSAD) can’t win the elections”, he stated.

Party circles say that Mr Badal has not changed, Bibi Jagir Kaur as SGPC chief as he does not want to appoint Balbir Singh Pannu, Senior Vice-President, as acting chief. Mr Pannu is close confident of Mr Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Cooperation Minister, who is political rival of ‘Kairon family’ which is closely related to Mr Badal.

The party has been weighing various options for announcement of the candidature of the SGPC chief. However, Bibi Jagir Kaur’s supporters have been ‘pressurising’ the party for repeating her name for the coveted post.