Despite ‘rift’, Sukhbir showers praise on Dhindsa, Phoolka

Tribune News Service

Nakodar, February 4

Even as former Union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa has been openly challenging the leadership of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, the latter today chose to shower praise on Dhindsa.

Having remained silent on the NDA’s decision to award Dhindsa with the Padma Bhushan at the juncture when he has quit from the party and has been raising pitch for Sukhbir’s stepping down, the SAD chief said, “Dhindsa has a long political history. Even though he has now retired from politics, he has worked with my father and I respect him.”

Asked if the alliance partner BJP had taken the SAD into confidence while deciding on Dhindsa’s name for the award, Sukhbir avoided a direct reply. “There are set procedures for shortlisting names for the award. It will not be right on my part to discuss that,” he said.

Sukhbir also justified the selection of Dakha MLA HS Phoolka. “As a Supreme Court lawyer, Phoolka has been doing a good job and he has been duly awarded,” he praised the leader, who, too, has been openly taking on Badals for controlling the SGPC.