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S.A.D. Opens Branch in Canada

By STAFF

I.A.N.S., Nov. 18, 1998

Didar Singh Bains, right, of Yuba City (California) and Chanranjit Singh Atwal, speaker of Indian parliament, pray before the Guru Granth anniversary program at the Capitol (Washington, D.C.), September 15, 2004

Photo: Didar Singh Bains, right, of Yuba City (California) and Chanranjit Singh Atwal, speaker of Indian parliament, pray before the Guru Granth anniversary program at the Capitol (Washington, D.C.), September 15, 2004

The Shiromani Akali Dal [S.A.D.] has established a Canadian branch.

Mr. Badal has designated Mr. Didar Singh Bains, former head of the World Sikh Organisation (W.S.O.), as head of the party here.

The announcement was made by Mr. Gyan Singh Langheri, designated as the Canadian branch president, at a formal ceremony near a gurdwara here. The Canadian chapter has a 13-member executive committee.

Speakers at the inaugural ceremony included the Indo-Canadian Member of Parliament, Mr. Gurbax Malhi, and the W.S.O. Vice-President, Mr. Inderjit Singh Bal.

At a meeting earlier this year, Reform Party Indo-Canadian M.P. Deepak Obhrai had objected to Indian political parties establishing branches in Canada. He had asked a member of the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party as to what such political groups were doing in this country and why their members didn't work for Canadian parties.

Asked about the Akali Dal's objectives, Mr. Langheri said it would strive to resolve problems between India and Canada and also put on the forefront problems of the Indo-Canadian, especially with regard to visas, passports, problems at airports in India and property disputes in their native land.