Alliance intact: Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 16

State BJP president Shwait Malik on Tuesday said despite reported differences within the Akali Dal, “our alliance is steady as ever”.

Talking to The Tribune, he said: “Small differences are a routine in all political parties. Some leaders may have difference of opinion in a democratic set-up. It has no impact on the alliance. Our parties are not ruled by one family like the Gandhis in the Congress,” Malik said.

On the BJP not joining its ally on major platforms such as the ongoing Bargari issue, Malik said: “We are together, but carrying out our programmes separately.”

Malik alleged that while liquor, sand and drug mafias were flourishing, another gang of fuel smugglers had emerged in the state. It was buying fuel at cheaper rates from Chandigarh, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and selling it at higher rates in Punjab, he claimed.