AMRITSAR: A supporter of secessionist ‘Referendum 2020’, former president of All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) – Peer Mohammad faction, Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad joined SAD (Taksali) on Monday, kicking up a major row. While the party of dissenting old Akalis claimed that Mohammad had changed his ideology, the leader himself insisted that he was not against the divisive movement, which seeks separation of Punjab from India.While talking to TOI SAD (Taksali) secretary general Sewa Singh Sekhwan said that Mohmmad had formally joined the party at a function held in Chandigarh in presence of party president and senior vice-president Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and Rattan Singh Ajnala , respectively.When asked if SAD (Taksali) was worried about being labelled as Sikh separatists supporters for embracing Peer Mohammad, Sekhwan said, “No, not at all. First of all we give a copy of our constitution to the person whom we intend to take in party fold, and the person is officially inducted in party only if he agrees to our constitution.”The SAD (Taksali) leader added that Mohammad had resigned as the head of AISSF and was now a member their party. “The referendum is a thing of past for Mohammad since he is on a new platform and has new ideology,” Sekhwan claimed.However, Mohammad claimed that that he was still not against ‘Referendum 2020’. In reply to a question whether he favoured a separate Sikh nation, he replied: “I am not against ‘Referendum 2020’. But I will associate with the process only after deliberations with the Sikh leaders who are pursuing the referendum. We want to know how they would secure freedom to the community through referendum.”Heaping praise upon Mohammad, Sekhwan said, “He is a big name in panth for not only tracing the witnesses of anti-Sikh riots of 1984 but also ensuring that their statements were recorded in the court.” He claimed that it was due Mohammad’s efforts that Congress leader Sajjan Kumar was behind bars.At the same time, Sekhwan said that SAD (Taksali) wouldn’t accept Peer Mohammad talking of Referendum 2020 from party’s platform. “It has already been decided,” he said.

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