Saturday, March 29, 2025
In a significant escalation of internal dissent within the Shiromani Akali Dal, Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali hit back at party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, urging him to relinquish personal interests and step down from leadership to restore the party’s credibility.
Ayali’s remarks come two days after Sukhbir Singh Badal called him a “traitor,” accusing him of undermining the party that nurtured his political career. Responding firmly, Ayali asked, “Is raising a voice against wrong decisions within the party an act of betrayal?”
Ayali emphasized that he has always stood by the Akali Dal, never seeking personal gain from power. He acknowledged the party’s role in building his political image but maintained that he would not stay silent over policy mistakes. “I have never used my position for personal benefit. The Akali Dal gave me a platform, and I’ve used it to work for Punjabis and farmers,” he stated.
He pointed to a series of controversial decisions that, according to him, alienated the public and damaged the party’s image. These included the appointment of Sumedh Saini as DGP, extending forgiveness to the Sirsa Dera chief, and adopting questionable stances on key farmer issues. “These missteps led us to raise our voices,” he said.
Ayali also highlighted his resistance during the farmer protests, noting that even after the party severed ties with the BJP, he did not support the NDA candidate during the presidential election — a silent protest against flawed decisions.
He further criticized the leadership for disregarding a committee that represented Punjab’s labor voices. “On December 2, a directive from Sri Akal Takht Sahib led to the formation of a new recruitment committee, but it was ignored by Sukhbir,” Ayali claimed.
The MLA stated that there is growing grassroots support for reviving the Akali Dal, but that requires honest leadership. “If Sukhbir truly cares about the party, he should abandon his personal ambitions and resign as president,” Ayali said. “We must unite everyone — this is the need of the hour.”
In a direct appeal to party workers and the Panth, Ayali concluded that it is up to them to decide who is truly loyal to the community and to Punjab’s farmers.
