Chandigarh: Former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bibi Jagir Kaur is firm to her stand of contesting the SGPC polls.
Disclosing the conversation in the closed-door meeting with Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra last day, she has put the SAD in a tight spot.
Bibi Jagir Kaur has claimed that senior Akali leader Dr. Cheema had told her that the party is in talks of an alliance with the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. It is difficult for both the parties to win in Punjab in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without an alliance. Therefore, both the parties will have to form an alliance.
She said the SAD-BJP alliance had played politics in Punjab for 33 years and there was nothing wrong if the two parties tie up again tomorrow. She is with the party’s decision.
Recently, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, in a press conference, had accused the BJP of directly interfering in the religious affairs of the Sikh community and trying to break the SGPC, the religious body of the Sikhs.
The Akali leaders had alleged that National Commission for Minorities chief Iqbal Singh Lalpura had called up the SGPC members and asked them to support Bibi Jagir Kaur.
The Akali leaders had demanded the Central government to take appropriate action against Iqbal Singh Lalpura.
Bibi Jagir Kaur said that she is an old worker of the Akali Dal and she has replied to the notice given by the party through the media. She said that she stands by her decision.
Kaur has announced to contest the election of SGPC president by rebelling from the Akali Dal, opposing the envelope culture of the Akali Dal. After this, the Akali Dal tried to convince her, but she stood by her decision.
Significantly, after a long time in the SGPC elections, the Badals have got a direct challenge. So far, no one in the Akali Dal has shown such courage.