Dalit to be Dy CM, if voted: Sukhbir Badal

Aparna Banerji

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Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, April 14

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday promised to give the post of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister to a Dalit if his party is voted to power in the Assembly elections next year.

He was in the district to pay tributes to BR Ambedkar on his 130th birth anniversary.

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On the occasion, Sukhbir announced that a university named after BR Ambedkar would be set up in the Doaba region. On the other hand, BSP activists opposed Sukhbir’s visit to the district and raised slogans.

Sloganeering by BSP activists

• Amid huge rush, Sukhbir Badal had a tough time walking up to Ambedkar’s statue to pay floral tribute to him on his 130th birth anniversary
• BSP activists raised slogans such as ‘Sukhbir Badal murdabad’, ‘Mazdoor maroo murdabad’ and ‘Kisan maroo murdabad’

The SAD chief’s visit came half an hour after that of BJP leaders who, too, faced opposition and sloganeering by BSP workers. There was a huge rush at the venue.

Although heavy police force was deployed, Sukhbir had a tough time walking up to the statue of Ambedkar to pay floral tribute amid pushing from all sides.

Security personnel jostled with the crowd pushing on both sides to get the leader across to his vehicle. The protesters raised slogans such as ‘Sukhbir Badal murdabad’, ‘Mazdoor maroo murdabad’, ‘Kisan maroo murdabad’ and ‘Bhajpa da friend murdabad’.

Later, addressing the media, Sukhbir said, “Babsaheb ne desh da savidhan banaya. Babasaheb gariban de messiah san. Babasaheb ne garib janata nu adhikar den vaste, sare vargan nu savidhan vich security den vaste, subeyan nu adhikar den vaste Constitution banaya. Aj jis Constitution de rahi desh chal reha, oh Babasaheb di den hai. (Babasaheb made the Constitution, he was the messiah of the poor. He made the Constitution to provide rights to the poor, security to all communities and give states their constitutional rights.)”

The SAD chief reiterated that when the SAD forms the government in the state, the Deputy CM would be from the Dalit community. A university named after Babasaheb would be established in Doaba. His ideas, thoughts and ideals would be taught to the new generation through this university.

Asked whether the SAD will form the government in a coalition, he said, “Talks are on with several parties. The decision will be made public”.