Shiromani Akali Dal expels eight rebel leaders

Adopting a tough stand against rebels, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Tuesday expelled eight leaders, including former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and ex-Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, for revolting against party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Taking serious note of ''anti-party activities'' by some senior leaders ''under a conspiracy'', the Shiromani Akali Dal's disciplinary committee expelled Chandumajra, Kaur and former MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala, from primary membership of the party, it said.

The party also expelled Parminder Singh Dhindsa, Sikandar Singh Maluka, Surjit Singh Rakhra, Surinder Singh Thekedar and Charanjit Singh Brar.

The disciplinary committee is led by senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar and also includes Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Gulzar Singh Ranike. Grewal attended the meeting while Ranike joined over the phone.

A section of senior leaders last month revolted against Badal, demanding that he step down as party chief following the Shiromani Akali Dal's performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab.

Among the prominent faces who revolted against Badal were Chandumajra, Kaur and Wadala, former ministers Maluka, Dhindsa, Rakhra and Sarwan Singh Phillaur, and party leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur.

After a long discussion, the disciplinary committee concluded that these leaders were tarnishing the image of the party with their actions, the Shiromani Akali Dal said.

The action came a day after the rebel leaders announced a 13-member presidium to strengthen the ''Shiromani Akali Dal Sudhar Lehar (Shiromani Akali Dal reform movement)''.

The presidium included Wadala, Kaur, Dhindsa, Rakhra, Brar and Gaganjit Singh Barnala.

The rebel leaders had launched the ''SAD Sudhar Lehar'' to ''strengthen and uplift'' the 103-year-old outfit.

Bhundar said it was revealed that these eight leaders had actively ''colluded'' with the Shiromani Akali Dal's ''enemies to create divisions in the party and weaken it.'' ''It was also felt that these leaders willfully damaged the image of the party as part of a wider conspiracy,'' he said.

The decision to expel the leaders was taken after careful consideration, he added.

''They were given ample opportunities to discuss their issues in the party forum. The working committee meeting of June 26 had through a resolution appealed to them to discuss their misgivings in the party forum but they refused,'' he said.

Bhundar said instead of showing restraint, the leaders increased the scope of their ''anti-party activities'' in a planned manner and made it clear that they did not have any faith in the organisation.

''Such acts of indiscipline cannot be tolerated and the disciplinary committee took a unanimous decision to expel them with immediate effect,'' he said.

The senior leader also made it clear that party discipline was of paramount importance and exemplary action would be taken against anyone found breaching it.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)