'SAD originally of farmers & workers, not capitalists'

JALANDHAR: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh's stance that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) originally was a party of farmers and 'mazdoors' (labourers) and not of 'sarmaaedaars' (capitalists) and needs to return to the original model to struggle and win, has put the top SAD brass in a piquant situation.
Earlier too, the jathedar had emphasised the need for SAD to get back to basics or that it had drifted from its original path. However, it is for the first time that he has said something that put a question mark on the SAD leadership.
Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, made these strong remarks while addressing the congregation at Anandpur Sahib in connection with Holla Mohalla. "Shiromano Akali Dal was a party of farmers and mazdoor.
SAD needs to be made a party of farmers and mazdoors. It was not a party of capitalists... Till the time it becomes a party of farmers and mazdoor, it can't struggle and till it does not struggle it can't get victory," he said.
These remarks have come at a time when critics of the Badals have already been attacking and their names figure in the charge-sheet filed by SIT in the Kotkapura firing case. After his remarks, several Sikh netizens and commentators pointed out that these remarks put the Badals in the dock as they were the capitalists and other senior leaders also fell in the same category.
Some suggested that it reflected that there was some tension between the jathedar and the SAD top brass. Veteran journalist Sukhdev Singh, who is known for making perceptive comments on Punjab and Sikh affairs, on his Facebook post endorsed the jathedar's views.
He said SAD was originally a party of farmers and 'madzoor' but its character was changed after a coup was engineered at Jawahar Lal Nehru's behest in which central agencies were also involved and Sant Fateh Singh was pushed to the helm of SAD. He held that after this, familial dominance was accomplished by Parkash Singh Badal.