Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa announced the formation of a new regional party, Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), on the occasion of Maghi Mela in Muktsar.
The party will be led by jailed MP Amritpal Singh.
Amritpal, booked under the stringent National Security Act (NSA), is lodged in the Central Jail at Dibrugarh in Assam.
The formal announcement was made on Tuesday at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar.
Amritpal’s father, Tarsem Singh, attended the first political conference at Muktsar. Also present was Sarabjit Singh Khalsa MP who is also the eldest son of Beant Singh, one of the assassins of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“Let us come together to save Punjab and protect the Panth (community). We are forming this party for the creation of sarbat de bhala da raaj. We want to do something for the people, thus creating a platform to fight for the issues of our society. Anyone can join the party and become a member by filling out the form,’’ said Amritpal’s father.
“The state needs an Akali Dal to represent the Sikhs. The previous Akali Dal lost the trust of the people as their leaders had confessed their crimes before the Akal Takht, so they cannot face the people now. This Akali Dal has been formed and is the new hope for the Sikh community. People should support the new party and make it successful,’’ said Khalsa, MP of Faridkot.
A declaration read out at the political conference stated, “This party is established to address the pressing need for a new political force in Punjab, a necessity that has been strongly felt. At present, Punjab is grappling with severe crises. The public of the state, especially the youth, are facing challenges like drug addiction, unemployment, inadequate education, corruption, moral decline, both water and air pollution, lack of health care, and other crises.”
“Once Punjab thrived on the legacy of the gurus. It is now plagued by divisions of caste, communal discord, and discrimination besides declining social and cultural values. In these challenging times, Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) aims to create a transformative vision for Punjab,” the statement further said.
A five-member committee has been formed to run the party until a new president is elected. The members are Tarsem Singh, Sarabjit Khalsa, Amardeep Singh, Harbhajan Singh, and Surjit Singh.
It announced the formation of a panel to decide the party’s constitution, agenda, policy, and discipline. This panel will advise the executive committee on the organisational structure of the party and run its activities.
A seven-member recruitment committee was also constituted to conduct a membership drive for the party. It was announced that the committee would conduct a membership drive in three months, and delegates would be elected by the members.
This executive committee will also hold elections for the central committee within the next three months. The party president will be elected on April 13 and establish the framework for the party.
The party said it plans to provide assistance to the families of martyrs, farmers, labourers, and working-class individuals and has promised support to Sikhs and others worldwide.
, on the occasion of Maghi Mela in Muktsar.){kind=link}