SAD says expelled Akali leaders forming new front to help Congress

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday said expelled Akali leaders were playing into the hands of the Congress party by forming a front at the instance of the latter to weaken the SAD and the Sikh Panth.

In a statement here, former ministers and senior vice presidents of SAD Nirmal Singh Kahlon and Gulzar Singh Ranike said the latest announcement of expelled leaders Ranjit Brahmpura, Sewa Sekhwan and Rattan Ajnala that they would reach out to Sukhpal Khaira was proof that the new outfit being planned by the trio was destined to be a Congress front.

"Khaira himself is a Congress tout and by joining hands with him the expelled leaders have also proved to be Congress stooges, who are ever ready to do what their new political masters order," they said, adding that the expelled Akali leaders were fond of extolling their 'panthic' credentials.

"These leaders foolishly believe that they are bigger than the SAD and will deliver the party to the Congress for which they have been promised a big prize including adjustment of their sons. The truth is that sons of all three leaders are their Achilles heel. All three sons are corrupt and discredited and hated by the Akali rank and file," the Akali leaders added.