Shiromani Akali Dal Pays Tributes To Jathedar Tohra

Prior to the much talked about “Chintan Shivir” in the state of Goa, the Shiromani Akali Dal president, Sukhbir Singh Badal, on April 05 stated that there’s no groupism in the political party and Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal was its only head.

Jathedar Tohra, ex president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), at a ceremonial occasion to mark his 9th death anniversary (which was on April 1), deputy CM Sukhbir stated that to dig up the Congress from Punjab, the party would have to fortify its stand.

“There is no place of groupism.” he said. “We have only the one leader, Parkash Singh Badal, and he is the tallest.”

He recalled Tohra’s input to the political party.

“Jathedar Tohra was the leading strength of the Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, who worked persistently together with Badal for the wellbeing of Punjab and Sikh Panth. An authentic mark of respect to him would be to encourage his philosophy to reinforce the SAD,” said Sukhbir.

Sukhbir’s comment hinted that Shiromani Akali Dal would challenge the Lok Sabha polls under the guidance of Parkash Singh Badal. He has tried to settle the hearsays that he might capture the position of the CM after the Goa meeting.

In his words, the CM also commemorated Jathedar Tohra as “the lighthouse for political leaders”, cued the Akali workers that the party was “best”. “The party gave podium to Jathedar Tohra to turn into Panth Rattan,” he said. “Everybody must reinforce the party, as he did.”

Parliamentarian Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa; Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Avtar Singh Makkar; Tohra’s son-in-law, Harmel Singh Tohra; Harmel’s son, Harinderpal Singh Tohra; Vidhan Sabha speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal, cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, mayor Amrinder Singh Bajaj, and Bibi Kuldeep Kaur Tohra also paid marks of respect to the ex Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee head.