SAD membership drive: Meeting with Balwinder Singh Bhundar inconclusive, says Gurpartap Singh Wadala

After Bhundar was unable to reach for the meeting, two members of the committee, its chairman SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Gurpartap Singh Wadala, met Bhundar at his Chandigarh residence

The meeting of the seven-member Akal Takht constituted committee to supervise the membership drive of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), with party’s working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar remained inconclusive.

Gurpartap Singh Wadala said Balwinder Singh Bhundar was not able to clarify the party’s position over the ongoing membership drive started by the party on January 20 and conveyed to him that it’s against the spirit of Akal Takht edict of December 2. (HT File)

After Bhundar was unable to reach for the meeting, two members of the committee, its chairman SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami and Gurpartap Singh Wadala, met Bhundar at his Chandigarh residence.

“He (Bhundar) was not able to clarify the party’s position over the ongoing membership drive started by the party on January 20 and conveyed to him that it’s against the spirit of Akal Takht edict of December 2,” said Wadala.

He adds that Bhundar tried to justify that the membership was being done as per Akal Takht’s directions as all members of the committee constituted by the temporal seat have been involved in the membership drive. SAD started the drive on January 20 for a month till February 20 and would hold the election for party president on March 1.

“We rejected what Bhundar said and offered him few more days to consult his party seniors and give clarity to the committee by Sunday otherwise we will write to the Akal Takht,” said Wadala. All members of the seven-member committee reached the SGPC sub-office for the meeting. Despite attempts Bhundar was not available for comments.