At BJP rally, Sukhbir says alliance ‘eternal’

‘Hindustan rahe na rahe…’ comment sparks row

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 18

Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today termed the party’s alliance with the BJP as “eternal”. He also said the relationship between the SAD and the BJP was that of “body and soul”.

Addressing the BJP’s “Bajao Dhol, Kholo Pol” rally, Sukhbir said: “Hindustan rahe na rahe assi taan tuhade naal hi rehna (whether the country remains or not we will be with you)”. While BJP leaders were seen applauding the SAD chief for showing loyalty towards the saffron party, the statement sparked a row. Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira said Sukhbir’s statement had exposed his corrupt state of mind as “he keeps his political interests ahead of the nation”. “He should apologise to the nation for his anti-national remark or else tried as per law,” he said.

Sukhbir, meanwhile, alleged that the Congress earlier defamed the state by branding 70 per cent of its youth as drug addicts and now it was affecting the economic growth by crying over empty coffers.

“Who will invest in Punjab which has been flagged as a cash-crunched state by its own Chief Minister? If the state coffers are really empty, how come Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu keeps announcing development projects worth crores of rupees?” he asked.

He claimed that as compared to Rs 20,000 received as VAT refund from the Centre earlier, the government received Rs 26,000 crore as GST share and still it was crying over empty coffers.

Former minister Bikram Majithia urged the Union Government to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assembly next year. He alleged that the people of Punjab had realised their mistake and wanted to rectify it by bringing the SAD-BJP back to power.