Akali Dal to help dispel ally BJP’s ‘communal’ tag

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12

Taking upon the responsibility of its ally, the BJP, in Punjab, the SAD will work to dispel the “communal” tag of its ally to blunt opposition parties’ campaign against it, keeping in view the 2019 General Election.

A top SAD leader said it would be party’s well-thought-out strategy to blunt campaign of the opposition parties, especially the Congress, against the BJP in the state. The party has brainstormed in the matter, and has been discussed at the leadership of both allies.

Besides, the SAD has identified other core issues related to the achievement of the Narendra Modi government which it will highlight among masses. The bouquet of issues will be expanded during run-up to the elections, though.

“The opposition parties’ campaign against the BJP is driven on the charge that it adheres to sectarian Hindutva ideology and hence is exclusive in its policies and approach. In Punjab they are issueless to take on the NDA government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” the leader said, adding that they hurl accusation of communalism to shore up their own “false sense” of secularism.

He added, “The SAD, being the founding member of NDA and one of the oldest allies of the BJP, is in a credible situation to blunt the charges of the Congress and its allies, and other opponents of the BJP.”

The NDA government’s pro farmers and agriculture sector initiatives for their holistic development will be among other core issues that will be brought into focus by SAD during its public programmes.

The increase of MSP of agriculture produce and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Seenchai Yojana (PMKSY) among other policy intervention will be showcased.

All these will be contextualised with the failed promises on farm loan waiver by the present Congress government in Punjab, and “apathy” towards farming community and agriculture sector during 10 years of the UPA rule.

The government’s initiatives on the economic front streamlining the financial sector, especially the institution to inject transparency in administration which has scaled up ease of doing business, will be other issues highlighted by it among public. The policies have resulted in high level of FDI inflow, the leader said.

The SAD is also appreciative of government’s policies catering to the NRIs, including easing procedural requirement with regard to their travel.