Akali Dal row over rebels

Akali Dal row over rebels
JAGTAR SINGH

CHANDIGARH, DECEMBER 3: Differences have started emerging in the ruling Akali Dal on the issue of taking disciplinary action against the dissidents, especially Ravi Inder Singh, MLA, who was earlier served the show cause notice.

The discordant note is learnt to have been sounded by senior party leader and former Union minister Surjit Singh Barnala, who could not make it to the LS in the last election.

Party sources say Barnala has shot off a letter to CM Parkash Singh Badal, who also heads the party, opposing action against Ravi.

Significantly, Barnala has been opposed to the elevation of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa as a minister at the Centre. Both belong to the Sangrur district.Ravi Inder Singh has become the rallying point for a section of the MLAs after the humiliating defeat of the party in the Lok Sabha elections. Badal issued him a show cause notice after getting ``authorisation'' from the political affairs of the committee. He was given 15 days to submit his reply.

Badal on Thursday reiterated thatRavi had been hobnobbing with parties like Congress and All India Shiromani Akali Dal led by Gurcharan Singh Tohra which was violation of the party discipline. Barnala has pointed out in the letter that no such authorisation was given to the party president. However, the resolution passed at the PAC to this effect was circulated among the journalists at a news conference addressed by Badal where he announced the decision to issue show cause notice to Ravi.