SAD expels Brahmpura ahead of polls; he hits back over 'drug nexus'
Amritsar : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday expelled former Khadoor Sahib MLA Ravinder Singh Brahmpura from its primary membership for alleged anti-party activities, months ahead of the Punjab assembly elections .
Brahmpura, son of late Akali MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, hit back, alleging that the party leadership had surrendered its ideology to “drug smugglers and organised criminal syndicates”. He said his expulsion was an attempt to silence his criticism of the alleged drug trade.
“When rulers cast aside their foundational pillars and adopt convicted felons and tainted elements as their political shield, the demise of their authority is not just imminent, it is sealed,” Brahmpura said.
He alleged that he had raised documented instances of narcotics trafficking and accused the SAD leadership of “mortgaging” the party’s historical prestige to the mafia. He said the expulsion had instead freed him from organisational restrictions and strengthened his resolve to fight the drug menace.
Brahmpura’s relations with the SAD leadership had deteriorated after party president Sukhbir Singh Badal appointed Bibi Ramandeep Kaur as the halka in-charge for Khadoor Sahib in April.
The latest action echoes an earlier rupture. In 2018, the SAD had expelled Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and his son Amarpal Singh ‘Bony’ Ajnala from the party’s primary membership for alleged anti-party activities.
Brahmpura said the SAD was weakening itself by sidelining traditional cadres and its “taksali” ideology while giving space to people with criminal backgrounds. He maintained that those trying to keep the party alive by cutting it off from its roots were ignoring political realities.
“The current leadership has not weakened my resolve; it has strengthened my political and moral determination to fight against the drug menace,” he said.
Brahmpura, son of late Akali MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, hit back, alleging that the party leadership had surrendered its ideology to “drug smugglers and organised criminal syndicates”. He said his expulsion was an attempt to silence his criticism of the alleged drug trade.
“When rulers cast aside their foundational pillars and adopt convicted felons and tainted elements as their political shield, the demise of their authority is not just imminent, it is sealed,” Brahmpura said.
He alleged that he had raised documented instances of narcotics trafficking and accused the SAD leadership of “mortgaging” the party’s historical prestige to the mafia. He said the expulsion had instead freed him from organisational restrictions and strengthened his resolve to fight the drug menace.
Brahmpura’s relations with the SAD leadership had deteriorated after party president Sukhbir Singh Badal appointed Bibi Ramandeep Kaur as the halka in-charge for Khadoor Sahib in April.
The latest action echoes an earlier rupture. In 2018, the SAD had expelled Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala and his son Amarpal Singh ‘Bony’ Ajnala from the party’s primary membership for alleged anti-party activities.
Brahmpura said the SAD was weakening itself by sidelining traditional cadres and its “taksali” ideology while giving space to people with criminal backgrounds. He maintained that those trying to keep the party alive by cutting it off from its roots were ignoring political realities.
“The current leadership has not weakened my resolve; it has strengthened my political and moral determination to fight against the drug menace,” he said.
Next Story