Jalandhar, July 05: Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee Chief Kripal Singh Badungar today dismissed reports that there was a move to replace him with Gurcharan Singh Tohra saying he has not received any directives from former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal. Terming the report as baseless, Badungar said Badal has not spoken to him on the issue. However, if asked to resign in favour of Tohra he won't take a minute to oblige him. "I will not take even a single minute to oblige him but as far as July 10 meeting is concerned, only routine agenda will be discussed in it" Badungar said adding that he was not aware whether Badal had promised Tohra the post. Describing Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani's move to support Badal as "a delayed action", he said Advani should have intervened at the initial stage when congress government booked nine Akali leaders allegedly by registering false cases.

On NDA team's proposed visit to the state he said Shiromani Akali Dal was strong enough to fight the evil designs of the Congress government and their visit did not assume any significance now.

He also questioned Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's statement that former SGPC chiefs Gurcharan Singh Tohra and Jagdev Singh Talwandi were honest leaders.


"Who authorized captain to give character certificates to Akalis," he said. Bureau Report