Akali Dal cancels three-day event to mark its 100th anniversary in wake of farmers’ stir

CHANDIGARH, Punjab—The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today canceled its three-day scheduled program to be held to mark the start of the 100-year celebrations of the party to ensure the ongoing farmers agitation does not suffer in any manner.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the party’s core committee held last night which was presided over by party President Sukhbir Badal.

Disclosing this, party spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said thousands of Akali workers were participating in the ongoing protest on the border with Delhi. He said it was felt that the ongoing kisan agitation would suffer in case a large scale three-day event was held at Sri Anandpur Sahib as planned by the party.

“It was accordingly decided to cancel the event altogether and in its place hold a commemorative Akhand Path at Sri Akal Takht on December 12. The Path will culminate on December 14 and will be attended by the top leadership including the party President.

The core committee also gave its wholehearted support to the Bharat Bandh call given by farmer organizations for tomorrow. The committee also appealed to Punjabis as well as people across the country to show solidarity with the farmers on the occasion. It also announced that the central government should repeal the three agricultural marketing laws immediately and guarantee assured government procurement at minimum support price (MSP) a statutory right.