‘Expelled’ leaders attended party functions, issued statements on behalf of YAD
Thursday, 27/12/2012
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/-expelled--leaders-attended-party-functions-issued-statements-on-behalf-of-yad/1050834/2
Hours after Maninderpal Singh alias Sunny Johar and Rishi Banda were booked for assaulting Assistant Inspector General of Police S S Mand at a Ludhiana restaurant owned by Maninderpal, the Youth Akali Dal on Tuesday had claimed that the two had been expelled from the party on May 29 for anti-party activities. However, ground reality seems to narrate a different story — the two had been issuing press statements, putting up hoardings to welcome SAD leaders and attending party functions till Tuesday.
SAD spokesman, Daljeet Singh Cheema, had said that while Maninderpal was a senior vice-president of YAD in Ludhiana, Rishi was a vice-president. They were expelled on May 29 along with Jaskirat Singh — YAD Amritsar vice-president — for anti-party activities during the municipal polls.
However, several regional newspapers had been publishing statements issued by the accused as YAD office-bearers until recently. Maninderpal had also kept a life-size photograph of himself with YAD chief and minister Bikramjit Singh Majithia in his office and his Facebook account carries several pictures of him with Majithia and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Interestingly, no SAD leader had ever objected to this and clarified that the “expelled” leaders were issuing press statements illegally on behalf of the party. There had also been heated arguments between Maninderpal and a few senior SAD leaders in public functions in the past, sources said.
When contacted, Bunty Rumana, Chairman of the YAD Disciplinary Committee, said: “Johar was seeking ticket for municipal elections. When he was denied a ticket, he participated in anti-party activities along with Rishi Banda. So, we expelled him then only and also issued a letter to him in this regard. However, it may not have been issued to the media.”
Asked about Maninderpal issuing press statements on behalf of YAD, Rumana said: “Not only Banda and Johar, many others also claim themselves to be the general secretary, vice-president, etc of YAD or SAD in press statements. We could not stop this earlier, but now we have become vigilant and all such statements will be screened and action taken soon.”
