lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Mar 13, 2019 07:36 IST

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Tuesday announced former Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Jagir Kaur as the party candidate from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat.

Her candidature was declared by Sukhbir at the party’s first election rally here after the announcement of the poll schedule by the Election Commission.

Jagir Kaur, who was elected MLA thrice from Bholath constituency in Kapurthala district, is the first candidate to be announced by SAD for the general elections.

Notably, Jagir Kaur had to resign as a minister in the SAD-BJP government in 2012 after a CBI court in Patiala awarded her a five-year imprisonment in the death case of her daughter Harpreet Kaur. But the Punjab and Haryana high court, in December last year, acquitted her of the charges of forcible abortion and abduction of Harpreet before her death in April 2000.

Her tenure as SGPC chief had also been controversial as she was excommunicated in 2000 by the then Akal Takht jathedar Giani Puran Singh for adopting Nanakshahi calendar developed by a Canada-based Sikh. However, her excommunication was later revoked.

The SAD has decided to contest 10 of the 15 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, leaving the remaining three for its alliance partner BJP.

HT had reported on Monday that SAD will field Jagir Kaur as its candidate from Khadoor Sahib, an Akali citadel, which has been electing party candidates since 1977 (except in 1992 when the party boycotted the polls).

“We have chosen her name for the Panthic seat after consultations with the party’s senior leadership and Sikh sangat. She will be the voice of the Sikh Panth in Parliament,” Sukhbir said.

Notably, SAD senior vice-president and incumbent MP from Khadoor Sahib Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, along with former minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan and former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala, formed a new political outfit, Shiromani Akali Dal (Taksali), in December 2018.

‘Brahmpura didn’t open his mouth in parliament’

Taking on Brahmpura, Sukhbir said the MP did not deem it fit to open his mouth even once in Parliament. “You elected Brahmpura Sahib but he did not raise a single issue of your area or the state in Parliament for five years.”

Sukhbir also targeted the Congress by raking up issues such as Operation Bluestar and the 1984 riots. He said, “People should not vote for the Congress as it the same party which attacked the Golden Temple while using tanks and guns. It is also responsible for the anti-Sikh riots in 1984, during which innocent Sikhs were brutally killed.”

He said, “When Narendra Modi became the country’s Prime Minister, an SAD delegation led by former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal met him and demanded re-opening of the 1984 cases. The PM immediately formed a special investigation team to give justice to the Sikhs. Due to the efforts of the Modi government, a key accused in the anti-Sikh riots, Sajjan Kumar, has been convicted.”

He said, “Recently, the Centre had decided to open the Kartarpur Corridor, which has been the long pending demand of the Sikh community.”

Earlier, Jagir Kaur and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia also targeted the Congress over anti-Sikh riots and Operation Bluestar.

Later, Sukhbir and Majithia also addressed a party workers’ meeting at Bhikhiwind, which was organised by former SAD MLA Virsa Singh Valtoha.