Talking to mediapersons here, he charged Chief Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal president Parkash Singh Badal with restoring to a Nadirshahi style in running the party. Commenting on the recent removal of his loyalists from the SGPC and other government departments, he said: ``Badal seems quite frustrated, otherwise he would not have resorted to such a shoddy game.''

Tohra said the Akali Dal had been fighting against the evils like dictatorship, nepotism etc. from the very beginning but ``it is very unfortunate that Badal has now adopted all these evils to rule the roost.''

Accompanied by suspended Akal Takht jathedar Bhai Ranjit Singh, Sant Samaj president Sarbjot Singh Bedi, SAD (Pantnic) president Jasbir Singh Rode, Tohra was here to pay tribute to Baba Jagat Singh, member SGPC, on his third barsi. Later, he had a close-door meeting with them. Tohra said in a democratic party every leader had the right to express his views, unlike Akali Dal. "BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana has openly criticised his party chief and Congress leader Sharad Pawar has expressed difference of opinion with Sonia Gandhi a number of times, have they been thrown out from their respective parties,'' Tohra questioned.

It was Tohra's first press conference after his unceremonious exit as the SGPC chief. On being asked to comment about the no-trust motion on the floor of the SGPC, despite his prior resignation, Tohra said Badal was proud to have deliberately violated the edict issued by the highest temporal seat of Akal Takht.

Tohra alleged that Badal was using SGPC members for his own ulterior motives without caring for the Sikh ethos and traditions. A programme to celebrate the tercentenary celebrations of Khalsa Panath under the aegis of Bhai Ranjit Singh had been finalised and the main focus of the celebrations would be religion while the politics would take the back seat, Tohra said.

Jasbir Singh Rode disclosed that as may as three Khalsa marches would begin from Akal Takht, Amritsar. Takht Damdama Sahib, Talwandi Sabo and Gurdwara Sis Ganj, New Delhi, simultaneously on April 11 to reach Anandpur Sahib the next day, where a two-day celebration would take place.