2 August, Punjab: To ease concerns about the resurgence of terrorism, Gurpartap Singh Wadala, the rebel leader of the Akali Dal party, declared, “There is no demand for Khalistan in Punjab.” In response to the victory of pro-Khalistan activist Amritpal Singh in the recent Lok Sabha elections, he said it was the result of “leadership vacuum in the state”.
“Khalistan word is being forced into our mouths,” Wadala stated in an exclusive interview with The Tribune. Such a problem does not exist in Punjab. Khalistan is becoming a catchphrase, especially among Sikhs who have emigrated overseas.
In light of the ongoing conflict within the Akali Dal, Wadala’s remarks were requested. This led to a discussion regarding the potential for additional room for hardliners like Amritpal, who won Khadoor Sahib despite being detained in Assam on suspicion of engaging in anti-Indian activities.
Amritpal had “made some mistakes, but there was clearly no support for Khalistan,” according to the convener of the rebel group. Right-wingers’ demands for a Hindu Rashtra ought to encourage others to support Khalistan. However, the majority of Sikhs oppose Khalistan. We can discuss Khalsa Raj, but only inside the borders of India. Amritpal engaged in “Amrit Sanchar” and battled drug use, however his actions at the Ajnala police station were improper. In an attempt to release a supporter of his who had been taken into custody by the police, Amritpal stormed into the police station.
Wadala said there were currently no preparations to launch a new party by the dissidents who had been kicked out of the SAD. Accusing Sukhbir Singh Badal of the mistakes that harmed the Sikh Panth and resulted in the continuous decline of the party,” he said Badal had multiple opportunity to step down as party president, but he refused to step down.
“In the Sikh Panth, giving up anything is highly respected. But Sukhbir was unable to succeed,” Wadala remarked. He said that they had been advising him to step down and make room for new faces since 2017. The farmer movements ought to have been led by the Akalis, he argued. “We have spent a lot of time fighting for farmers. Why have the farmers stopped trusting us now? There must be a response to this.
Saying that the BJP is to blame for every problem the Akali Dal is facing is untrue. That is incorrect. All they’re doing is transferring the blame. “The Akalis are in a mode of self-defeat,” he declared.
Regarding the potential for a deal with the BJP, Wadala stated that political alliances come and go. An alliance may be possible if the BJP is able to resolve the problems in Punjab.