Tohra-Badal unity:Wise decision or act of survival

[me moorakh mugadh]

AMRITSAR: The unity of the Akali factions of former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Akali veteran Gurcharan Singh Tohra could be viewed as a wise political decision.

For Tohra, the move would mean survival in Punjab’s polity. The hope of the BJP at the centre has also been revived. The BJP is not only looking towards capturing maximum Parliamentary seats during the impending Lok Sabha elections but is also expecting to make a clean sweep of the panchayat polls.

Political observers here believe that both Badal and Tohra were in a no win situation and had got together out of their own political compulsions under the pressure of BJP’s central leadership.

The unity move, they believe would have a marginal impact on national politics since Sikhs throughout the country would vote for the Akalis, except those who already have political affiliations.

The Akalis have always known to have a fair amount of say in the matters of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) which is the sole representative body of the Sikhs.

Sikh scholar Gurbachan Singh Bachan, who has also been the secretary of the SGPC told Times News Network on Tuesday that Tohra had not been given a position which was suited to his stature. This, he said, could have led to Tohra’s disenchantment with leaders of other Akali factions.

Bachan said that the united Akali Dal would inspire Sikhs abroad to donate generously.

He claimed that besides capturing all the 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab, the united Akalis would also have a bearing on election prospects in neighbouring states like

Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan and in states which have a large Sikh population.

Kuldeep Singh, head of the political department at Guru Nanak Dev University feels that the visible reason for unity was to prevent the vote bank from splitting.

He, however, expressed a view different from Bachan’s that Akali unity would have a major impact on Sikhs living in other states.

Changes in the offing

A senior Akali leader, not wanting his identity revealed, said that major changes in the SGPC set up could be in the offing. Tohra loyalists who had earlier been sidelined could once again get prime posts in the SGPC. Sources claimed that Sukhdev Singh Bhaur and Manjit Singh Calcutta could be given prize posts in the SGPC.

They added that removing SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, could cost Badal dear as the Congress could start working against him once Badungar is out of the SGPC.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com:80/cms....show?msid=30042

[ms514]

Sat Sri Akal:

Akali/BJP/Congress...at the end of the day, they are all sipping tea together!!!

Can't wait until these old fogies die!

[Guest SikhForLife]

u said it brother lol lol

but i dont think the new ones are going to be any better..

remember these ppl actually saw 1984.. new ones will be all brainwashed thru hindu majority media..

[Guest super singh (;]

wahegurujee ka khalsa

wahegurujee ki fathe

CHOR CHOR MOSAREE BHAI :D