Chandigarh, India (March 24, 2014)— Former Punjab CM and Akali leader Surjit Barnala, on Saturday, joined with the Congress Party and merged his his splinter Akali group named Akali Dal (Longowal) into it. Previously, Barnala has remained as minister in central government and governer in various states of India. Barnala, his wife, and the president of SAD (Longowal) were also present on the occasion.
It is noteworthy that with the motive of crushing the Sikh armed movement, the Indian government used Barnala from 1985 to 1987 during which he served as Chief Minister of Punjab. He was one of the accused of Rajiv-Longowal Samjhauta which many perceived as against Punjab and aspirations of Sikhs. During his tenure, Punjab witnessed lot of human rights violations including fake encounter and extra judicial killings.
In a press conference, Partap Singh Bajwa, president of Punjab Congress, said welcome to him. He said that Barnala’s party has taken such decision and put no condition before Congress in order to stop communal forces to have come in power.
General Secretary of SAD Baldev Singh Mann said, “Akali Dal (Badal) was encouraging the drug mafia and youth of Punjab is fed up lot due to unemployment. So, only Congress could be helpful for the Punjab.”