Pargat Singh resigns from Akali Dal

Former hockey captain-turned-politician Pargat Singh resigned from primary membership of the Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday.

Former hockey skipper and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh resigned from the Shiromani Akali Dal on Monday, accusing party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal of “betraying” the people of Punjab.

The former Indian hockey captain, Pargat had refused to become chief parliamentary secretary in April, hours before the swearing-in ceremony, leaving the chief minister red-faced (HT File)

Pargat, who was recently suspended from SAD for his alleged anti-party activities, has floated a political forum ---Awaaz-e-Punjab--- along with cricketer-turned-politician and ex-MP Navjot Singh Sidhu and independent legislators from Ludhiana, Simarjeet Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains.

“I resign from the primary membership of the party. You (Sukhbir) have betrayed the people’s trust,” he wrote in a missive to the SAD chief.

Later, during the assembly session, Pargat joined the Bains brothers in their protest against speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal for not allowing them to move a private resolution on sharing of river waters with Rajasthan.