Manjit Singh Calcutta receives SAD show cause notice

Fatehgarh Sahib, June 25 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior leader Manjit Singh Calcutta has admitted receiving the show cause notice issued by the party's Disciplinary Committee for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities.

''I received the notice yesterday along with a set of 22 news clippings of his press statements,'' he said while reiterating before mediapersons that he had not violated party discipline.

'' I stand by each and every word published in the media,'' he said while pointing out that he had already begun drafting the reply to the notice.

Referring to the show cause notice he said that he had been accused of indulging in false and irresponsible criticism of the party through media.

''I have also been accused of holding parleys with the Congress and not attending the party's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meetings,'' he added.

He denied holding any secret meeting with Congress leaders.

Clarifying his point he said he had met Harvinder Singh Sarna, president Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) recently and during the course of this meeting the Punjab Chief Minister's media advisor Bharat Inder Singh Chahal and Cabinet Minister Partap Singh Bajwa arrived there.

Regarding his absence from the PAC meetings he said whenever he attended these meetings he always raised issues concerning the party and Punjab and was never hesitant to criticise the wrong policies of the party. Unfortunately a majority of the PAC members are 'mute spectators' and never forthcoming in their views, he added.

''If speaking the truth and advocating the principles of Sikhism and ideology of Akali Dal mounted to indiscipline then he was ready to face any action,'' he added. He said he had been associated with the Akali Dal since 1960 when none of the present SAD leaders were in Akali politics.

Regarding the demand of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandik Committee (SGPC) chief Avtar Singh asking the Akal Takht to summon former Takht Jathedar, Prof Darshan Singh, he said such a demand was not justified. Prof Darshan Singh had committed no sin by participating in a religious function organised by the state government on the occasion of the martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev at Tarn Taran last week, he added.

UNI XC HS MA RN2036