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Sunday,
July 20, 2003, Chandigarh, India  
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Ravi Inder floats new Akali Dal
Jalandhar, July 19 The Akali Dal announced to launch a movement for the settlement of long-pending issues of the state including interstate waters dispute with Haryana, transfer of Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas to Punjab, release of Sikh youths, languishing in jails without trial, rehabilitation of “Dharmi faujis” for which the Dal will submit a memorandum to the Governor on August 13 at Chandigarh. Earlier, addressing a convention at Gurdwara Guru Tegh Bahadur here, the convener of the Panthic Morcha Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi announced that all its constituents had been merged to form “Akali Dal”, which would ensure the defeat of the SAD headed by former Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. In a unanimous resolution adopted at the convention, the Akali Dal criticised Mr Badal for promoting his family interests and ignoring dedicated workers. “Badal promoted corruption during his stint as Chief Minister and now he is trying to project the registration of a case against him and family members by the Congress government as a war against Sikh community, which is highly deplorable. Badal should face the trial in a court instead of creating confusion among the masses to gain sympathy,” the resolution said. Later, addressing a press conference, president of the Akali Dal Ravi Inder Singh announced that they would launch a movement for the settlement of long pending demands of the state for which they would hold a peace march to Raj Bhavan at Chandigarh on August 13 and a memorandum would be submitted to the Punjab Governor. Lashing out at Mr Badal and former SGPC Chief Gurcharan Singh Tohra for forging an “unholy” alliance recently, the former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker alleged that both Badal and Tohra had betrayed the people and promoted their kin by sacrificing the interests of the state. “We will expose the true face of Badal family before the masses,” he asserted, adding that his party would wage a battle for the release of Sikh detainees and the rehabilitation of “Dharmi faujis”. Criticising Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for his selective anti-corruption campaign, Ravi Inder alleged that the Congress government was deliberately not initiating any action against a group of corrupt bureaucrats, senior police officials and politicians, who allegedly looted people during the SAD-BJP regime. “In fact, the anti-corruption drive had lost its sheen as most of the corrupt officers are being given plum posts, which has put a question mark on the functioning of the government,” he said, adding that there was need to keep a strict vigil on the “Vigilance Bureau”.Baba Sarbjot Singh Bedi said that an 11-member Shiromani Akal Council would be constituted, to act as a “watchdog”, as well as “thinktank” to monitor the functioning of the Akali Dal. “The membership drive has been launched and the president of the Akali Dal will be elected formally through democratic means on next Baisakhi even as the remaining office-bearers, to run daily affairs, will be appointed shortly,” he said, adding that the Akali Dal would contest the next SGPC elections to ensure the defeat of Badal-Tohra combine. When asked why the SAD (Democratic) led by Mr Kuldip Singh Wadala, earlier a part of Panthic Morcha, did not join them, Baba Bedi said, “Mr Wadala is still welcome to join the Akali Dal. Others, who were present included SAD (Panthic) president Jasbir Singh Rode, Sucha Singh Chhotepur, MLA. UNI adds: Former SGPC president Jagdev Singh Talwandi, former SGPC general secretary Mall Singh Kuhan, Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and several other leaders were present on the occasion. 
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