Amritsar, July 16
The foe-turned friends, Mr Parkash Singh Badal and Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today called upon the Sikh sangat to give a befitting reply to the alleged repression let loose by Capt Amarinder Singh government against the Akalis. The Akali stalwarts alleged that the state was heading towards a “civil war” due to the “anti-people” policies of Capt Amarinder Singh.

Meanwhile, Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar offered to quit immediately as SGPC chief as per the wishes of the SAD chief. Mr Badal said Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra who had served the Panth for a long period would replace Mr Badungar. However, according to sources, Mr Tohra would first like to get his confidant elected as SGPC chief in the forthcoming executive meeting being convened within a day or so. Later Mr Tohra would be elected as president in the general house of the SGPC which could be convened with 21 days’ notice.

Interestingly, the beleaguered Akali leaders have started raising slogans like “Panth is in danger” and “Akal Takht ton ai awaz, Panth Khalsa zindabad” after a long gap. Such slogans were common during the launching of dharm yudh morcha in October 1982 or whenever Akalis are out of power. Though the Sikh clergy had directed Mr Badal to hold an akhand path at Akal Takht for the “chardi kala” of the Panth, the venue of Dewan Hall (Golden Temple) turned out to be a show of strength of the SAD with a large number of supporters of Mr Tohra and Mr Badal thronging the venue in large number. This was why the Shiromani Akali Dal announced to launch a mass movement to oust Capt Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister. Mr Manjit Singh Calcutta, a former SGPC chief said the good response was because of the “magic of unity” which woke up the rank and file from the “deep slumber”. He said in the past Akali workers were in distress due to disunity of the Akali Dal.

Capt Kanwaljit Singh, general secretary, SAD, said the Akali Dal had accepted the challenge of Capt Amarinder Singh who had resorted to “economic and political repression” against the Akalis. He said the history of the SAD had proved that Akalis got strength during the period of repression and tyranny.

Dubbing the allegations that the Badal family owned property worth Rs 3500 crore as ‘baseless’, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, general secretary, SAD, said that they (he and his father, Mr Parkash Singh Badal) would quit politics if Capt Amarinder Singh proved it.