Under criticism for holding dharnas at the international border with Pakistan “to pressurise the Border Security Force” on drugs issue, the “undeterred” Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has convened two separate meetings to finalise its preparations.
The party has decided to hold two meetings — one at Chandigarh and another at Amritsar — during the next two days “to finalise preparations for the four massive dharnas”.
The party president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, a day before, had announced that the Akali Dal will organise four dharnas at international border with Pakistan “to pressurise the BSF to stop drugs from entering Punjab territory from Pakistan”.
“The meeting of 14 districts, to be presided over by party patron and CM Parkash Singh Badal, would be held on Tuesday at the party head office in Chandigarh,” said the party secretary and spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema.
Those districts whose office bearers have been called for the Tuesday meeting are Ropar, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Moga, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa. Another meeting of eight districts of Doaba and Majha areas, including Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Nawanshahr, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur and Pathankot, have been called for December 31 at Amritsar. This meeting will also be addressed by the party patron.
He said that the party cadre had been assigned duties for the four dharnas at Attari, Husssainiwala, Sadki and Gurdaspur international border.
“The party cadre from Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr, Ropar, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib had been assigned to participate in the dharna at Attari. Party cadre from Ferozepur, Moga, ludhiana, Patiala, Barnala and Sangrur would participate in the dharna at Hussainiwala,”he said.
He said that the party cadre from Fazilka, Muktsar, Faridkot, Bathinda and Mansa will participate in the dharna at Sadki, while party cadre from Gurdaspur, Pathankot and Hoshiarpur will participate in the dharna at Gurdaspur. Cheema said that all MPs, legislators, SGPC members, district presidents and leaders had been invited for two party meetings.
(Related report on Page 2)