Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday expelled Qadian-based leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan from the primary membership shortly after he resigned as senior vice-president of the party.
Revealing this here, party senior vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema said the action had been taken against Sekhwan for indulging in anti-party activities. He said Sekhwan, who had lost the last four consecutive assembly elections, had displayed opportunistic tendencies and was working to backstab his mother party.
“He has shown this ungratefulness despite the immense responsibilities entrusted to him by the party. Sekhwan’s expulsion is applicable with immediate effect,” Sekhwan added.
Earlier in the day, Sekhwan along with MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala slammed SAD president Sukhbir Badal for his “inept leadership that is leading the party into chaos”.
The three addressed a press conference in Gurdaspur, where Sekhwan announced his decision to resign as senior vice-president of SAD.
“First Dhindsa sahib resigned and then Brahmpura sahib resigned, and today I resign from the post of party’s senior vice president and core committee,” Sekhwan said.
“When you are not invited in meetings for the posts I held, then what will I do with these positions. Therefore, in protest against it I resigned from both the posts,” he said.
Brahmpura and senior Akali Dal leader Rattan Singh Ajnala lashed out at party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, saying he was “incapable” of running the SAD and demanded his removal.
“To strengthen the party, it is utmost important that those who are leading it Sukhbir Badal and (Bikram Singh) Majithia who have kept Akali Dal in their pockets should be removed,” said Brahmpura.
They said pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda in a 2007 blasphemy case and sacrilege incidents during the SAD-BJP government have hit the party’s image.
After Dhindsa resigned from party posts on September 30, Brahmpura, Ajnala and Sekhwan had virtually raised a banner of revolt saying “all was not well within the party.” They had even stayed away from party’s Jabar Virodhi rally in Patiala on October 7. — With PTI inputs
