References to Kuldip Singh Wadala (a.k.a. Vadala) are brief among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

In August 1985 Kuldip Singh Vadala was a party official of the Akali Dal (Reuters 22 Aug. 1985).

In May 1988 Kuldip Singh Vadala was one of six leaders of the Unified Akali Dal who were arrested under the National Security Act, along with Punjab's former chief minister Prakash Singh Badal (New Delhi Home Service 29 May 1988).

In November 1990 Kuldip Singh Wadala was the party general secretary of the Akali Dal (Badal) (All-India Radio 25 Nov. 1990).

In the May 1993 by-election for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat in Punjab, Kuldip Singh Vadala of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) was defeated by his Congress rival, Umrao Singh (ibid. 22 May 1993).

A March 1997 and a January 1998 article in The Hindu refer to Kuldip Singh Wadala as the president of the Akali Dal (Democratic) (29 Mar. 1997; 27 Jan. 1998).

Information on the years in which Wadala (Vadala) was a member of the S.G.P.C., when he was in the Legislative Assembly, and whether he ran in any elections in 1997 and could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

All-India Radio [in English]. 22 May 1993. "Parliamentary, Assembly By-Election Results." (BBC Summary 25 May 1993/NEXIS)

_____ [Delhi Home Service, in English]. 25 November 1990. "Akali-Dal Leaders Arrested in Punjab." (BBC Summary 26 Nov. 1990/NEXIS)

The Hindu [Chennai/Madras]. 27 January 1998. "India Akali Factions to Extend 'Issue-Based' Support to PM." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 March 1997. "India 'Withdraw Cases Against Badal, Tohra'." (NEXIS)

New Delhi Home Service [New Delhi, in Hindi]. 29 May 1988. "Former Punjab Chief Minister Detained." (BBC Summary 30 May 1998/NEXIS)

Reuters. 22 August 1985. PM Cycle. Chaitanya Kalbag. "The murder of Harchand Singh Longowal... ." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998.

India Abroad [Toronto]. 13 March 1998. "Election '98: The Verdict."

India Today. n.d. "India Votes '98." [Internet] http://www.indiavotes.com

Electronic sources: Internet, IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, WNC.