Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar re-elected Chief Khalsa Diwan chief

GS Paul

Amritsar, February 18

Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar will continue to hold the command of the Sikh’s oldest body Chief Khalsa Diwan (CKD) by registering a convincing win over former revenue officer Surinderjit Singh Pall, who contested for the president’s post.

Of the total of 399 votes polled, Dr Nijjar got 247 votes for the president’s post today. He defeated Surinderjit, who got 150 votes, by a margin of 97 votes. Two votes were declared invalid. Representing Amritsar South as lawmaker and former minister in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Cabinet, Dr Nijjar made the poll outcome as almost a one-sided affair. Except for the post of honorary secretary, the panel of Dr Nijjar bagged all seats.

For two posts of vice-president Dr Santokh Singh Sethi and Jagjit Singh Bunty were elected. For resident president’s post Kuljit Singh Sahni was elected. For the two posts of honorary secretary, Sawinder Singh Kahunangal and the lone Opposition candidate Ramneek Singh were declared winners.

Brushing aside murmurs of the Sikh body going under AAP’s control, the medico-turned politician said there should be absolutely no political interference in socio-religious organisations.

Naming Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) particularly, Dr Nijjar said two political parties unsuccessfully tried their level best to get him defeated as he was attached with the AAP.

“But it was shameful that Akali leaders stooped so low, unmindful of the glorious past of the party. I may be the AAP MLA and serve people of my constituency. When I come to ‘Diwan’, my priorities are quite different and I am the dedicated ‘Guru’s Sikh.’I have not made a single AAP leader as CKD member during my tenure,” he said.