Chandigarh - Shiromani Akali Dal president Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal said here today that his party “ is not a numbers-driven organisation but a movement committed to a clear vision about Punjab and the Khalsa Panth.
Our core committee had already stated firmly that for SAD, principles are always above politics.”“ For us, numbers are far, far below our ideals and objectives as we have never believed in the politics of opportunism. Our party stalwart Sardar Parkash Singh Badal opposed the Emergency when he was being offered Chief Ministership in exchange for silence against Mrs Indira Gandhi against draconian laws . Instead, he spurned the offer and led the first Jatha in the Morcha against Emergency. For this, he chose to suffer long stints in dark prison cells. That approach defines and will continue to define SAD, “ said Mr Badal in a statement here.
The SAD chief further said that seats or berths or their numbers are far below the interests of the Khalsa Panth and Punjab. “ The SAD Core Committee had spelt it out clearly in its meeting a couple of days ago that “unlike some national parties which are run from Delhi, SAD is a strongly regional party rooted in Punjab and driven by Panthic ideals. We are committed to Sarbat da bhala. “
Mr Badal said that unlike others, SAD treats the interests of Punjab and Punjabis in general and of the Sikhs in particular as our highest moral responsibility. We are not run from Delhi but from the farms and lanes and bylanes of Punjab. Accordingly, we are proud of our regional character. Punjab comes ahead of political calculations. We have to live and die here, unlike others. “
He said that SAD is “not just a political party but a 103 year-old movement with a clear vision and we have always pursued that vision with total commitment . That will continue to be our goal. “
The Akali president further said that his party is the largest democratic representative organisation of farmers and have always led the fight for the farmers’ rights from the front and introduced historic measures in govts for their welfare.”We belong to the farms, the fields and the soil of Punjab. We will continue to fight for justice to farmers.