Paramjit Kaur Khalra in fray, Panthic parties under pressure

JALANDHAR: There was not much buzz around Paramjit Kaur Khalra (64) in Punjab’s Panthic political circles so far this election season, but, with Punjab Ekta Party (PEP) fielding her for the May 19 Lok Sabha election from Khadoor Sahib, she has become the most-talked-about candidate now.

Khalra’s candidature was announced on March 12, but rival parties, especially those that identify with Sikh politics, are already facing pressure to withdraw their candidates to ensure Khalra’s victory. This is because Khalra is the widow of Jaswant Singh Khalra, the man who exposed killing and disappearance of thousands of Sikh youth by Punjab Police between 1984 and 1994, when the dark days of terrorism loomed over Punjab, and faced torture and his own murder for it SAD has fielded former SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur, while the Congress is yet to pick its candidate.

SAD (Taksali) is being pressured to withdraw General J J Singh (retired) from the seat. SAD (Taksali) general secretary Karnail Singh Peermohammad said he and other leaders of his party were getting calls from Sikh groups and activists to support Khalra in place of fielding their candidate. “But PEP chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira has to take the first step by making her a Panthic candidate,” he said. Sarbat Khalsa-appointed parallel Akal Takht jathedar Dhian Singh Mand, who led Bargari Morcha, also admitted to considering the withdrawal of their candidate, but said PEP and its alliance partners under Punjab Democratic Alliance have to take the first step. “It is better if she is fielded as an independent. Then, all Panthic groups will support her,” he said. Khalra was working as an assistant librarian at Guru Nanak Dev University and resigned in 1999 to fight the parliamentary polls that year or Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, headed by late Gurcharan Singh Tohra.