Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder and academicians and intellectuals today appealed to the youth to understand the philosophy of the SAD as well as its contributions in nation building as well as community service and apply them in all their actions.
Addressing a seminar on Sangharshmayi Safarnama of the Shiromani Akali Dal organized by the Students Organisation of India (SOI), its Working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the SAD had a glorious heritage. “Right from freeing gurdwaras from the management of Mahants to fighting the British Raj to standing up to the hated Emergency enforced by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the SAD had always lived up to the principles of its founding fathers”.
He said even now the SAD was standing up to its principles by supporting the cause of farmers, Bandi Singhs and the grievances of Punjabis be it transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab or securing the River water rights of people of the State”.
Dr Daljit Singh Cheema while speaking to the youth urged them to make meaningful contributions to the society and stand up for probity in politics. He urged the youth to go to educational institutions and tell students about their rights and stand by them to realize the same.
Dr Jasbir Singh, chairperson of the department of History of Panjab University, spoke on how the SAD had not only fought for removing of Mahants from gurdwaras but also for independence of the country. Dr Kuldeep Singh from Guru Nanak Dev University disclosed how out of 1.40 lakh arrests made during the period of Emergency, as many as 40,000 Sikhs had been arrested.
Baljit Singh Virk and Paramjit Singh Bhangu also spoke on the occasion.
Senior youth leader Gurpreet Singh Rajukhanna and SOI president Ranbir Singh Dhillon said such seminars would be held in educational institutions across the State and thanked the large number of students from colleges in Chandigarh and the Panjab University who participated in the seminar.