Chandigarh, December 2
The SAD Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and senior Akali leaders today decided to launch a “people’s movement against state repression” on December 9. The party decided to give a befitting reply to the framing of a “false” corruption case against SAD President Parkash Singh Badal and the attempts to weaken the Akali Dal.
SGPC President, Gurcharan Singh Tohra presided over the PAC meeting.
He said the proposed “zabar de virudh lok lehar” would be launched when the first batch of minimum 101 Akali workers would stage a dharna in front of Central Jail, Patiala, where Mr Badal is lodged. The meeting also decided to express solidarity with Mr Badal by holding a public rally on his birthday on December 8 after the bhog ceremony of an akhand path at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran at Patiala. Mr Badal would remain in full control of the party, he added.
When asked if a new “morcha” will be started on December 9, Mr Tohra said: “The Akalis have never launched any morcha. It is always the governments of the time that had forced the party to start morchas. Therefore, what direction the proposed people’s movement against state repression takes place would be determined by the government actions and attitude. If Mr Badal gets bail tomorrow, the complexion of the public awareness movement could change accordingly but protests will continue”.
A meeting of MLAs has been called here tomorrow at 5 pm, where the strategy drawn up for the people’s movement would be explained to them and duties assigned. The meeting will be held at the official residence of Mr Badal.
The PAC decided to submit a detailed memorandum of acts of omission and commission of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his government to the President of India. Union Minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa was asked to seek an appointment with him. The issue of “shabby” treatment to a former Chief Minister and a sitting Member of Parliament, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, would also be raised in Parliament. The SAD will also brief NDA allies and other anti-Congress parties of the happenings in Punjab.
The PAC meeting demanded that the government should withdraw the cases registered against peaceful Akali protesters and release them forthwith.
