Chandigarh, May 23
The SAD Political Affairs Committee has resolved to boycott Union Minister of State Jagdish Tytler in Parliament and send a party delegation to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, to apprise him of the pending issues of Punjab.
The memorandum to be presented to the Prime Minister will take up, among other issues, the future of Rs 14,000-crore Bathinda Oil Refinery, besides other long-pending demands the SAD has been fighting for. These included the issues like the river waters and territorial disputes. Several PAC members, it is learnt, expressed concern over the manner in which the Eradi Tribunal has been revived.
These are among several other important decisions taken at the conclusion of a two-day brainstorming session of the SAD at Chail in Himachal today.
A special committee comprising Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Capt Kanwaljit Singh and Mr Tota Singh has been set up to build a permanent office of the SAD in Chandigarh. The PAC conclave discussed, among other things, the approach the SAD should have towards the Congress and the United Progressive Front Government in New Delhi and the Amarinder Singh Government in Punjab.
Most PAC members were tightlipped on what had transpired at the four sessions. The deliberations reportedly revolved around a discussion paper prepared by Mr Sewa Singh Sekhwan. It is leant, the paper has suggested, among other things, that the SAD should follow the CPI and CPM pattern with the village as a unit to construct a pyramid-like organisational structure. There was a proposal to set up SAD offices abroad as well.
Capt Kanwaljit Singh said the meeting felt that despite the appointment of Dr Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister, Ms Sonia Gandhi remained the “centre of power”. “The indications are thus clear — no shift in the policy stance of the Congress vis-a-vis Punjab or the Sikhs, Capt Kanwaljit Singh said. The delegation would inform the Prime Minister that there was no governance in Punjab, which was on the precipice of bankruptcy. The real worry at the conclave was where Punjab was headed for under the Congress.
Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal said a programme to involve all MPs had also been drawn up to pursue vital issues concerning Punjab and Punjabis in and outside Parliament. For the first time, it was decided to set up an office for MPs.
The conclave decided to hold a ‘’thanksgiving’’ congregation at Manji Sahib in the Golden Temple Complex on June 13 for the success achieved in the Lok Sabha elections. Sources said it was also decided to amend the SAD constitution and raise the strength of the Working Committee from 31 to 51 and that of the PAC from 13 to 21.
The clear message of the conclave is that “the Congress remains ‘enemy number 1’, despite Dr Manmohan Singh. Also, the SAD should corner the Congress on political, social, economic and religious issues, both inside and outside Parliament and the state assembly.”
