Amritsar, October 18
In a significant development, the Union Home Ministry has decided to send poll observers for the SGPC elections, scheduled to be held before November 30.
The observers would ensure a free and fair election of the SGPC office-bearers and check the distribution of liquor, currency, drugs and use of muscle power during the election. The Shiromani Akali Dal has complained of “direct interference” by the state government to “hijack” the elections.
Mr Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Union Minister and Secretary-General of SAD, said here today that the poll observers were being sent by the Central Government on the request of the SAD. The Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, had assured a deputation of the party that observers would be sent well in time.
Since the enactment of the Sikh Gurdwara Act, 1925, this is for the second time that the Central Government will directly observe the poll through its senior officers.
Earlier, during the Barnala regime, the Centre had to intervene when stakes were high between two factions of the Akali Dal.
Meanwhile, the joining of 10 SGPC members loyal to Mr Parkash Singh Badal with the “non-aligned” group, formed by 11 members of Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, has given a jolt to the Badal faction.
The new 21-member group which performed ardas at Takht Anandpur Sahib today would also seek strength from Akal Takht for electing a consensus candidate for the post of SGPC president.
Mr Dhindsa said the Political Affairs Committee of SAD being held tomorrow would write to the Governor for constituting a joint committee of Assembly members to probe the corruption charges against all former and present ministers and senior politicians. He said his party would take stern action against any of its leaders if indicted by the joint committee. He said Akali leaders should not be singled out and implicated in ‘false cases’.
Sounding a warning, Mr Dhindsa said his party would go to the street if Mr Badal is booked in a “baseless” case. He claimed that the Amarinder Singh government which had ‘failed’ on all fronts could prove the charges that he had amassed property worth Rs 3500 crore.
