SAD open to tie-up, says Sukhbir

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Sirsa, February 17

Stating that the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was exploring the possibilities of alliance in Haryana, party president Sukhbir Singh Badal said it could join hands with a political party on the basis of compatibility and ideology.

Addressing the Jan Chetna rally here on Sunday, he urged the Punjabis to unite under the banner of SAD. “We have always been at the forefront of the fight for people’s rights. The Punjabis need a voice in Haryana and SAD is best equipped to represent them,” he said, maintaining the Punjabis could easily decide the outcome of 30 to 40 seats in Haryana.

The former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said the party’s core committee was exploring the options for an honourable electoral tie-up. However, he said they would contest all 10 Lok Sabha and 90 Assembly seats in the state on its own in case no alliance materialised. SAD has contested from two seats in the previous Assembly elections in alliance with the INLD.

Promising free power facility to farmers if SAD was part of the new state government, the SAD president said former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had laid the foundation of a welfare state by giving free power to farmers and also starting unique schemes. He said SAD was also committed to making each village a model village by ensuring 100 per cent sewerage and water supply. “We will implement this in Haryana once we form the government in the state,” he said.

Calling the Congress the biggest enemy of the Sikh community, Sukhbir said the Congress was responsible for desecrating the Golden Temple and indulging in genocide of Sikhs in 1984.

Paying tributes to the martyrs of the Pulwama terror attack, Sukhbir urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take strongest possible action against Pakistan for orchestrating the attack.

He said their sacrifice for the motherland would not go waste. “I appeal to PM Modi to take strictest possible action against Pakistan,” said Sukhbir.

He said Pakistan was trying to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir as it had tried to destabilise Punjab and Haryana.

Balwinder Singh Bhundar, SAD Haryana in charge, announced that the party would hold rallies in Pehowa in coming days and other places in the state. Sikander Singh Maluka, former minister, said workers’ meetings would be held across the state in phases.