No tough talk by Akalis in Shah meeting: Malik

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 11

State BJP president Shwait Malik on Monday said no contentions had been raised by former CM Parkash Singh Badal with the BJP on the farmers’ issue, rather “he has assured that the Akali Dal will always be with the BJP”.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a bike rally in the district, Malik said: “I was present at the meeting (BJP chief Amit Shah’s with the Badals). No concerns were expressed by the Akali leadership. Badal saheb is the most trusted and reputed leader of the NDA. He has blessed the BJP.” On ban on farmers for sowing paddy before June 20, he alleged: “The Congress is an enemy of the farmers. It has cut their loan limits and sops.”

The rally was taken out on the completion of four years of the BJP at the Centre.

BJP posters defaced

Members of the Valmiki community reportedly defaced posters carrying pictures of Malik, alleging that they had been pasted right above a poster bearing the picture of Valmiki.

They also reported the matter to the police, which have lodged an FIR.

Chairman of the Valmiki Shakti Kranti Sena Raju Khosla said: “The BJP has hurt the sentiments of the community by pasting a poster with the leader’s footwear right above our guru.”