The Hindu : National : At 81, Badal completes half-century

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Sunday, Dec 09, 2007
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At 81, Badal completes half-century

Sarabjit Pandher

Advani describes Akali leader as lighthouse of politics

Photo: PTI

Happy birthday: Senior BJP Leader L. K. Advani felicitates Akali Dal supremo and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on his 81st birthday in Bathinda on Saturday.

CHANDIGARH: Sharing some emotional moments, close associates and members of the family showered accolades on the four-time Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, who while celebrating his 81st birthday on Saturday also completed 50 years in active politics.

Former Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani drew imagery from cricket to say that everybody in the country would now wait eagerly to watch “this unblemished stalwart” complete a healthy century. Incidentally, Mr. Badal had laid the foundation stone of the “largest cricket stadium”, to be built on an area of 29 acres in two years, before arriving at the public rally organised in Bathinda on Saturday.

Addressing the impressive gathering, Mr. Advani recalled Mr. Badal’s contributions in initiating the era of coalition politics way back in 1967 when he became Chief Minister of Punjab for the first time as the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Jan Sangh joined hands to break one-party dominance of the Congress. Mr. Advani said that personalities like Mr. Badal acted as lighthouses for contemporary politics.

The BJP leader in charge of Punjab affairs, Balbir Punj, recalled that along with former Minister Balramji Das Tandon (also from the BJP), Mr. Badal stood witness to the post-Independence era in Punjab. He recalled that after having been elected for the first time in 1957 Mr. Badal rose to his present stature as an icon of peace and tranquillity.

However, the most emotional address came from Mr. Badal’s son Sukhbir Singh, who besides being a Member of Parliament is also the working president of the Akali Dal. He recalled the days when he missed his father on the annual day of his school at Sanawar in Himachal Pradesh, as more often than not Mr. Badal would be in jail.

Narrating Mr. Badal’s dedication to the cause of Punjab and the Sikh Panth, Mr. Sukhbir Singh recalled that his father had refused to apply for parole at the time of the marriage of his sister. He went on to recount how his childhood was spent in the laps of senior Akali leaders, some of whom were present at the function on Saturday. He had a special reference reserved for his mother, Surinder Kaur, who according to him was an embodiment of grit and determination. With her husband spending a total of as many as 17 years in jail, she faced all challenges related to grooming the children and guarding the interests of Mr. Badal.

Former Chief Minister of Haryana, Om Parkash Chautala described Mr. Badal as a champion of the farmers. Along with his father, former Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, the Akali stalwart always propagated their cause and strove hard to safeguard their basic rights and interests.

In his characteristic style, Mr. Badal expressed his gratitude for all those who had stood by him all these years. He substantiated Mr. Advani’s previous remark that he was not aware of the exact date of his birthday. “The co-ordination committee of our two parties decided it was today, I could only agree with them,” he said quite amused. Mr. Badal used the occasion to assure the people that law and order would be maintained as the present Akali-BJP Government was committed not to allow any element to vitiate the congenial atmosphere of peace and harmony.

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