Chandigarh: The rift in SAD (Punar Surjit) widened on Tuesday after party functionaries Iqbal Singh Jhundan and Santa Singh Umaidpuri joined hands with the Amritpal Singh-led Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De), prompting the party to expel Jhundan for six years on charges of anti-party activities.The development comes days after Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali quit SAD (Punar Surjit) to join Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De). Jhundan, Umaidpuri and Ayali were in the five-member committee that oversaw the membership drive leading to the formation of SAD (Punar Surjit) under the directions of the Akal Takht.Addressing a press conference alongside Ayali, Amritpal Singh‘s father Tarsem Singh and Faridkot MP Sarabjit Singh Khalsa, Jhundan said Panthic forces should unite under one platform. He described jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh as the “political face of the Sikh Panth” and Panthic Council chairperson Satwant Kaur as its “religious face”.He accused a section of the SAD (Punar Surjit) leadership of exploring an alliance with “anti-Punjab” and “anti-Panth” forces, saying any tie-up with the BJP was unacceptable.Responding swiftly, SAD (Punar Surjit) general secretary Gurpartap Singh Wadala announced Jhundan’s expulsion from the party’s primary membership for six years. Wadala said Jhundan had violated party discipline by holding unauthorised meetings and announcing political unity without consulting the party’s coordination committee. He also rejected allegations of any understanding with the BJP, saying no such proposal had even been discussed.Meanwhile, party president Giani Harpreet Singh released a letter he had written to Satwant Kaur earlier this month, rejecting speculation of any political understanding with the BJP.
