SGPC president: Badal to announce candidate today

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, NOV. 29. The much-awaited meeting today of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), owing allegiance to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, proved to be an anti- climax. Similar to the outcome of the Dal's Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting last week, today's meeting also ended after authorising the Chief Minister and party president, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, to name the candidate for tomorrow's annual election of the SGPC president.

Talking to presspersons after the meeting which he chaired in his capacity as the party chief, Mr. Badal said he would announce the name of the candidate for the coveted post of SGPC president just before the committee general house begins its deliberations. Responding to repeated queries, Mr. Badal said, ``I would not even disclose whether its is going to be a man or a lady. At least not before tomorrow morning.'' However, he ruled out the possibility of a temporary arrangement of having an acting president.

The development is being viewed by political observers as an attempt by Mr. Badal to assert his leadership in the political as well as religious sphere of the Sikh community. It is felt that Mr. Badal has once again trampled over the democratic traditions and practices only to project himself as the undisputed leader of Sikhs in particular and Punjabis in general.

Apart from a minor flutter caused by a walk-out by a member, Mr. Puran Singh Josh, the meeting, which lasted 28 minutes inside Bhai Gurdas Hall near the Golden Temple complex passed off peacefully.

As other members favoured authorising Mr. Badal to name the SGPC chief, Mr. Josh got up to make a point. He said he would support any person named by Mr. Badal, with the condition that the party chief does not allow Bibi Jagir Kaur to continue for another term. When he was shouted down, he walked out and threatened to raise at tomorrow's meeting the various contentious issues, including the mysterious disappearance of jewels from the treasure of the Golden Temple.

While most members jeered at Mr. Josh, the former Akali president, Mr. Jagdev Singh Talwandi, appealed to Mr. Badal to allow the member to voice his grievances. However, senior leaders, such as Capt. Kanwaljit Singh, Mr. Balwinder Singh Bhunder and Mr. Kirpal Singh Badungar, said that as per the tradition, the Dal president always nominates a candidate for the post of the SGPC president.

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