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Tohra's men plan session to counter Badal

Akali leaders owing allegiance to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra will assemble in Ludhiana Sunday to chalk out a strategy to counter the rival Akali camp headed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Tohra camp leader Prem Singh Chandumajra, MP, said it was an informal gathering of a few leaders to review the ''unsavoury situation created by some vested interests.''

He said they would deliberate on how to maintain unity in the Akali Dal that has been threatened because of the 'unwanted overbearing role' of certain outsiders, who are out to 'settle personal scores at the cost of the party and the state government'.

Chandumajra said they would not allow individuals 'not from the Akali mainstream' to hold the government to ransom 'just to satisfy their bloated ego.'

Chandumajra had resigned as general secretary of the Dal a few days ago in protest against the offensive targeting Tohra. He said they would abide by the directions of the Akal Takht chief, who has asked the Akalis to stop the infighting.

The need of the hour was to save the Punjab government from the ongoing financial crunch and attend to the farmers' problems, he said.

The Akali Dal could not sweep pressing problems under the carpet any longer and take shelter behind the ''media hype'' generated to bolster some personalities at the cost of the party, he said.

UNI

EARLIER REPORTS:
Disciplinary action against Tohra
Badal's supporters call for Tohra's head
Tohra ready to quit

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