Akali Dal acting president Balwinder Singh Bhundar unavailable, Akal Takht committee meeting now on Feb 13

Patiala: The meeting of the seven-member committee formed by thes Akal Takht could not be held on Tuesday due to the unavailability of Shiromani Akali Dal working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar. The panel, in its first meeting, had invited him for confirmation on the membership drive initiation. The meeting has been rescheduled for Feb 13 in Chandigarh.The Akal Takht's panel, in its previous Feb 4 meeting in Patiala, wished to commence the membership drive, but extended an invitation to Bhundar to address this matter. However, Bhundar was not available. Committee members claimed that Bhundar submitted that he had to attend the marriage of Sukhbir Badal's daughter the next day, following which he reached Delhi.The long-delayed meeting of the committee was first convened at Bahadurgarh Patiala on Feb 4 and was presided over by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. It was attended by SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali, former MLA and dismantled SAD Sudhar Lehar convener Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Iqbal Singh Jhunda, Santa Singh Umaidpur, former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Bhandungar, and Satwant Kaur.Wadala, who earlier termed SAD membership drive against the Akal Takht's directives, while speaking to TOI, said Bhundar seemed to have given a flimsy ground for missing the meeting. "He could have attended the function after attending the meeting of Akal Takht's panel, but we had to cooperate. However, he seems reluctant to join our meeting," he said.