Barnala: For the first time in 41 years, uncertainty loomed over the venue for observing the death anniversary of former Shiromani Akali Dal president Sant Harchand Singh Longowal, with rival SAD factions staking claim to different sites at the Longowal grain market.The Shiromani Akali Dal and SAD (Punar Surjit) remained adamant on holding their conferences at the grain market on Aug 20, despite the Market Committee Cheema allotting sheds to SAD (Punar Surjit) and an adjoining open space to SAD. The dispute reached the Punjab and Haryana high court, with activists of both parties awaiting its order till the evening of Aug 19, leaving little time to erect stages and pandals.On Aug 15, the market committee allotted sheds 1 and 2 to SAD (Punar Surjit), shed 3 to the AAP govt for a blood donation camp and an adjoining open space to SAD.SAD objected to the allotment, saying it had applied for the venue earlier and deposited the requisite fee and security. The authorities said SAD Punar-Surjit was allotted the sheds because it planned to place a saroop of Guru Granth Sahib at the venue, making it a religious-political conference, while SAD was given an open space with a concrete surface as it planned to arrange chairs for participants.SAD challenged the allotment in court. The matter was heard on Aug 18 and 19.After waiting for the court order till 6pm on Aug 19, SAD decided to shift its conference to Bhai Mani Singh Khalsa College, where it had held the event in 2025.“We did not want any clash or confrontation over holding two conferences at adjoining places in the grain market,” SAD general secretary Winnerjit Singh Khadial said.He alleged that the state counsel had argued in favour of SAD Punar-Surjit before the court, contending that it should retain the shed as it was holding a religious ceremony.
