Akali unity push hits wall: Waris Punjab De ends talks with Punar Surjit faction

Jalandhar: Barely a month after forming a ‘Panthic unity coordination committee' to work towards an alliance, Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) on Sunday announced it was ending coordination with Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), alleging the rival faction continued to promote leaders who had "lost the moral right" to lead the Panth.In a statement, SAD (WPD) said that despite several meetings of the eight-member coordination panel, the two sides could not agree on "fundamental ideological issues".Members of the four-member SAD (WPD) panel — Babu Singh Brar, Paramjit Singh Johal, Pargat Singh Raiya and Rachhpal Singh Soson — said Sikhs worldwide wanted only "Panth-approved, honest and clean-image" leaders to head the Panth and Punjab.The statement said there had been an understanding, in line with the Akal Takht directive of Dec 2, that leaders who had lost moral legitimacy would be sidelined. However, the rival faction allegedly gave such leaders "prestigious positions" and key responsibilities, weakening the basis of unity efforts.The SAD (WPD) leaders also accused the other faction's leadership of making "irresponsible statements" that damaged the alliance process.The two sides had announced the coordination committee on April 18 at a meeting in Jalandhar. Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali was made convener of the panel and had claimed that an "alliance" between the factions had been achieved.