Chandigarh January 10- The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Working Committee today accepted the resignation of Sukhbir Badal. He stepped down as president of the party. Badal who had submitted his resignation in November, attended today’s meeting. He disclosed that he attended the meeting to insist that the Working Committee accept his resignation. He expressed his gratitude to the Committee. They extended their wholehearted support to him during his tenure as President of the SAD. The Committee on its part recorded the exemplary service extended by the President to the party. Later while talking to newsmen,

Badal Thanks Party Workers, Pledges Continued Service;

Sukhbir Badal thanked the lakhs of party workers. They had extended their support to him. He was fighting for the cause of Punjab and Punjabis. “I am deeply touched by the love and trust they reposed in me”. He also asserted he would continue serving the party and Punjab as a humble worker. He pledged to do so with renewed vigour and commitment. Senior leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema provided details of the meeting. He said the Working Committee also decided to launch the membership drive on January 20. This was for the reconstitution of the organizational structure of the party. He disclosed that the membership drive would last for one month. The election to the President of the party would be held on March 1.

Sukhbir Badal : Gulzar Singh Ranike Appointed Chief Election Officer

It was also disclosed that senior leader Gulzar Singh Ranike is the chief election officer. He will conduct the organizational elections. Dr Cheema also disclosed that SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had been given charge of Jammu and Kashmir and Hoshiarpur. Kirpal Singh Badungar is responsible for the entire Malwa region. Manpreet Singh Ayali is in charge of Rajasthan. Santa Singh Umaidpur has been assigned Himachal Pradesh. Iqbal Singh Jhunda is responsible for Malerkotla. Paramjit Singh Sarna is in charge of Delhi. Manjit Singh GK oversees Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Raghujit Singh Virk is responsible for Haryana.

Dr. Cheema Appeals to Ex-SAD Leaders Amid Disciplinary Action;

Dr Cheema also made an appeal to all leaders who are presently outside the SAD. This is due to the initiation of disciplinary action against them. He urged them to approach the disciplinary committee. This would allow their cases to be taken up for their return to the party. Meanwhile the Working Committee took strong notice of the National Policy Framework on Agri Marketing. It said the framework sought to destroy the entire agri marketing structure in Punjab. It also aimed to promote privatization. The Committee claimed this action was meant to reintroduce the three agricultural laws. They demanded a special session of the Vidhan Sabha. This session would reject the draft framework on agri marketing. It also condemned both the central government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. They accused them of ignoring the grievances of farmers. They did nothing to ensure the end of the fast unto death of senior Kisan leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. It also condemned the AAP government. They accused them of thrusting thousands of fake names into the voter list for the SGPC elections. They demanded all fake entries be deleted immediately. It also condemned how the post of chief secretary was created in Chandigarh. Other posts were created to further dilute Punjab’s right over the union territory.