The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today suspended senior leader Jagir Kaur from the party over “anti-party activities” after she refused to back down from contesting the November 9 Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections.
The decision to suspend Kaur, a former SGPC chief, was taken by the SAD’s disciplinary committee led by former minister Sikander Singh Maluka. She had been asked to clear her stand within two days, failing which “further disciplinary action” would be initiated against her, he said.
SAD has suspended Bibi Jagir Kaur from the party & give her 2 day ultimatum to stop anti-party activities failing which strict disciplinary action will be taken agnst her. She has also been asked to renounce her decision to construct election for post of President of SGPC. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/ElhVcekndD
— Shiromani Akali Dal (@Akali_Dal_) November 2, 2022
A few days ago, SAD leaders Daljit Singh Cheema and Surjit Singh Rakhra had called on Kaur to persuade her to “toe the party line” on the candidature for the SGPC president’s post, but she is learnt to have remained adamant on contesting the election.
Maluka said it was mandatory for Kaur to clarify that she would not contest the poll.
“If she doesn’t do this, the party is bound to act against her as none is above the party,” Maluka said at a press conference here. He said Kaur was allegedly indulging in anti-party activities for the past few months and was “working in conjunction with forces inimical towards the SAD. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal also met her, but she refused to budge,” he said.
The disciplinary committee chairman said the party had also received complaints from several SGPC members that Kaur was pressuring them to support her.
I respect Bibi Jagir Kaur a lot, says SAD chief day after party suspends her
A day after the Shiromani Akali Dal suspended former SGPC chief and its leader Bibi Jagir Kaur for “anti-party activities”, party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said he respects her a lot and had never said no to her for anything.
Speaking to reporters in Amritsar, Badal, while replying to a question, said,
“I respect Bibi (Jagir Kaur) ji a lot and my father (Parkash Singh Badal) also respects her. I can say that I never said no to Bibi ji for anything. Even now I respect her.” Asked whether the BJP was backing Kaur, he alleged that Lalpura has been openly calling up SGPC members and asking them to support Kaur’s candidature. “He (Lalpura) is holding a constitutional post,” Badal said, adding that he should not try to break the Sikh institution with his conduct.
Jagir Kaur became the president of SGPC
Former MLA Kaur was also president of SGPC in 1999, 2004 and 2009. Presently the president of SGPC is Harjinder Singh Cheema. Currently, the Shiromani Akali Dal is yet to announce its candidate for the November 9 elections.