SAD expels Jagir Kaur from occasion over determination to contest SGPC presidential ballot

By PTI

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday expelled Bibi Jagir Kaur from its major membership for alleged anti-party actions after she caught to her stand of contesting the November 9 Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee presidential ballot.

The motion got here after Jagir Kaur failed to look earlier than the occasion’s disciplinary committee, which had requested to elucidate her determination of contesting the election.

Kaur, who has held the submit of the SGPC chief thrice beforehand, was adamant on contesting the ballot.

Once thought of a Badal household loyalist, Kaur on Sunday rolled out her agenda for the SGPC presidential polls, promising to revive the autonomy of the apex gurdwara physique.

She had been urgent to be the occasion’s nominee for the SGPC ballot.

Kaur, a former MLA from the Bholath seat, had been the SGPC chief in 1999, 2004 and 2020.

Addressing the media right here on Monday, SAD’s disciplinary committee chairman Sikandar Singh Maluka mentioned the disciplinary motion towards Kaur was taken after exhausting all different choices, together with giving the chief a chance to current her viewpoint by means of a private listening to.

“The SAD has always sought to present ‘panthic’ unity by putting forward a single candidate for the post of president of the SGPC after the party president takes the views of all members individually. We fail to understand why Bibi Jagir Kaur wanted to change this and create confusion in the Sikh community as it only helps forces inimical to the ‘panth’,” he mentioned.

Maluka mentioned the occasion had given her probabilities to elucidate her place however she failed to reply.

“We are left with no option except to take action against her. The disciplinary committee today decided to expel her from the party. Her primary membership to the party has been cancelled. Her services in the party have ended now. The party has nothing to do with Bibi Jagir Kaur,” he mentioned.

Maluka mentioned Kaur began making ready to contest the SGPC elections three months in the past by approaching SGPC members.

He mentioned senior SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra had urged her to abide by occasion self-discipline.

“Even SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal apprised her about the viewpoint of SGPC members and counselled her not to insist on contesting the polls,” mentioned Maluka.

But Kaur remained insistent, Maluka mentioned, including she began calling up and assembly with members to solicit their assist.

“Things got out of hand when there were complaints from SGPC members that senior BJP leader and Minority Commission Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura was ringing up members to solicit support for Bibi Jagir Kaur,” Maluka claimed.

Last week, Kaur was suspended from the occasion after she dug her heels in for contesting the election, towards the occasion’s needs.

The SAD had earlier issued a two-day ultimatum to Kaur to cease “anti-party” actions, failing which, it mentioned, strict disciplinary motion could be taken towards her.

“Following this, two repeated extensions were given to her to explain her viewpoint and today she was given time to explain her case in person,” Maluka mentioned.

However, as an alternative of doing this, she is questioning the formation of the disciplinary committee, he added.

Disciplinary committee member Virsa Singh Valtoha launched a purported audio clip, claiming that an Amritsar-based BJP chief was telling a SGPC member that he would organize the latter’s assembly with Lalpura.

The SAD has already introduced incumbent Harjinder Singh Dhami as its candidate for the submit of president of the apex gurdwara physique.

The occasion’s determination to announce its candidate was additionally a marked departure from the follow of declaring its nominee on the day of the ballot.

The SAD earlier had slammed Lalpura for allegedly in search of assist for the candidature of Jagir Kaur for the forthcoming polls whereas accusing him of attempting to interrupt the SGPC.

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday expelled Bibi Jagir Kaur from its major membership for alleged anti-party actions after she caught to her stand of contesting the November 9 Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee presidential ballot.

The motion got here after Jagir Kaur failed to look earlier than the occasion’s disciplinary committee, which had requested to elucidate her determination of contesting the election.

Kaur, who has held the submit of the SGPC chief thrice beforehand, was adamant on contesting the ballot.

Once thought of a Badal household loyalist, Kaur on Sunday rolled out her agenda for the SGPC presidential polls, promising to revive the autonomy of the apex gurdwara physique.

She had been urgent to be the occasion’s nominee for the SGPC ballot.

Kaur, a former MLA from the Bholath seat, had been the SGPC chief in 1999, 2004 and 2020.

Addressing the media right here on Monday, SAD’s disciplinary committee chairman Sikandar Singh Maluka mentioned the disciplinary motion towards Kaur was taken after exhausting all different choices, together with giving the chief a chance to current her viewpoint by means of a private listening to.

“The SAD has always sought to present ‘panthic’ unity by putting forward a single candidate for the post of president of the SGPC after the party president takes the views of all members individually. We fail to understand why Bibi Jagir Kaur wanted to change this and create confusion in the Sikh community as it only helps forces inimical to the ‘panth’,” he mentioned.

Maluka mentioned the occasion had given her probabilities to elucidate her place however she failed to reply.

“We are left with no option except to take action against her. The disciplinary committee today decided to expel her from the party. Her primary membership to the party has been cancelled. Her services in the party have ended now. The party has nothing to do with Bibi Jagir Kaur,” he mentioned.

Maluka mentioned Kaur began making ready to contest the SGPC elections three months in the past by approaching SGPC members.

He mentioned senior SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra had urged her to abide by occasion self-discipline.

“Even SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal apprised her about the viewpoint of SGPC members and counselled her not to insist on contesting the polls,” mentioned Maluka.

But Kaur remained insistent, Maluka mentioned, including she began calling up and assembly with members to solicit their assist.

“Things got out of hand when there were complaints from SGPC members that senior BJP leader and Minority Commission Chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura was ringing up members to solicit support for Bibi Jagir Kaur,” Maluka claimed.

Last week, Kaur was suspended from the occasion after she dug her heels in for contesting the election, towards the occasion’s needs.

The SAD had earlier issued a two-day ultimatum to Kaur to cease “anti-party” actions, failing which, it mentioned, strict disciplinary motion could be taken towards her.

“Following this, two repeated extensions were given to her to explain her viewpoint and today she was given time to explain her case in person,” Maluka mentioned.

However, as an alternative of doing this, she is questioning the formation of the disciplinary committee, he added.

Disciplinary committee member Virsa Singh Valtoha launched a purported audio clip, claiming that an Amritsar-based BJP chief was telling a SGPC member that he would organize the latter’s assembly with Lalpura.

The SAD has already introduced incumbent Harjinder Singh Dhami as its candidate for the submit of president of the apex gurdwara physique.

The occasion’s determination to announce its candidate was additionally a marked departure from the follow of declaring its nominee on the day of the ballot.

The SAD earlier had slammed Lalpura for allegedly in search of assist for the candidature of Jagir Kaur for the forthcoming polls whereas accusing him of attempting to interrupt the SGPC.