CHANDIGARH: Facing strong opposition from veteran leaders, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said he would continue as the party president till the leadership wanted.
He said this after paying monthly obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. "I am leading the party on its direction. I am duty bound to do whatever the party asks me to do. If it demands my resignation, I am ready for it," Sukhbir said, in a bid to pacify the rebels.
All veteran Akalis were like his father and he respects them, Sukhbir added.
The former Punjab deputy chief minister on Saturday held a meeting with SGPC members and Akali Dal MLAs in Amritsar, but disgruntled party leaders chose to stay away. All the senior party leaders of Majha region, including Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Rattan Singh Ajnala, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, Manmohan Singh Sathiala, Amarpal Singh Bonny and Sewa Singh Sekhwan, who had aired their resentment, had not attended the meeting.
Earlier, Brahmpura had resigned from all party posts on health grounds. After Sukdev Singh Dhindsa resigned from the party posts on September 30, Brahmpura, Ajnala and Sekhwan had virtually raised a banner of revolt saying all was not well within the party.
Reacting on Sukhbir's offer to resign Brahmpura expressed doubt on Sukhbir's intention. "If Sukhbir didn't resign after the shameful debacle of our party in Punjab election last year, how can one believe that he will resign now?"
Meanwhile, Sukhbir visited dissident Akali leader Bhai Manjit Singh at his residence along with his brother-in-law and MLA Bikram Singh Majithia. He is said to have succeeded in persuading Singh to keep away from other dissidents. After the meeting with Sukhbir, Singh said he discussed many Panthak issues but he never raised any objection on Sukhbir being the Akali president.