Days after launching a new political forum ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ with the former Parliamentarian Navjot Singh Sidhu and “Bains brothers”, Olympian and SAD’s “suspended” MlA Pargat Singh on Monday bid adieu to the
Akali Dal.
India’s former hockey captain-turned-politician Pargat Singh resigned from the primary membership of the SAD, but continues to be the member of Vidhan Sabha.
He submitted his resignation, addressed to the party president and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal, to SAD’s office secretary in Vidhan Sabha Tara Singh. The Bains brothers — MlAs Balwinder Singh Bains and Simarjit Singh Bains — were accompanying him.
“I resign from the primary membership of the party. You (Sukhbir) have betrayed the trust of people of Punjab,” wrote Pargat Singh in a missive to the SAD president.
Pargat Singh, Jalandhar Cantonment MlA, been placed under suspension in July this year for “anti-party activities”—a development described as “good riddance” by the former sportsperson.
Upset with the SAD over setting up of solid waste management plant in his constituency, the SAD-led Punjab Government’s all efforts to woo him back failed. He even refused to swear in as Chief Parliamentary Secretary in April this year, hours before the swearing-in ceremony, leaving the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal embarrassed.
He had refused to accept the CPS post till the issues of his constituencies were not resolved.
Even as the Awaaz-e-Punjab has been launched, all out efforts were on to shape it into a strong political force and “robust fourth front”. leaving no stone unturned, Pargat Singh and its other leaders were holding parleys with “like-minded” people and parties, especially the disgruntled elements in other political parties.
Pargat Singh maintained that soon, BJP MlA Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu would also resign from the saffron party “either on Monday or Tuesday morning”.
At the same time, Dr Navjot did not confirm the same. “I have not yet decided on when to resign…I would inform the media before resigning from the BJP,” she said.
After handing over his resignation, Pargat Singh was seen sitting with the Bains brothers, leaving his designated seat in the treasury benches.
Reacting to Friday’s incident where the Bains brothers were thrown out of the House after they defied the Speaker’s orders, Pargat Singh said that the Speaker’s action was “unconstitutional”.