SAD to go along with NDA in Presidential Pools: Badal

 by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)
DASUYA (HOSHIARPUR), JUNE 12

            Patron of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Parkash Singh Badal today categorically said that SAD being a major constituent of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would go all along with its alliance partner on the issue of the coming Presidential elections.

            Talking to the media persons here after attending the Bhog ceremony of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mr Amarjeet Singh Sahi here today, Sardar Badal said that as a key ally of the NDA, the SAD was committed to support the line of action as proposed by the NDA. On a query to support Union Finance Minister Mr Pranab Mukherjee whose name has been making rounds as the likely Presidential candidate of the Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), he said that all the constituents of the NDA would join their heads to decide their stand over the matter in the coming days. “It’s the alliance which will decide its stand over the issue for which the meeting of its major constituents will be convened in coming days” added Sardar Badal.

            The SAD Patron though refused to comment on the arm twisting strategy being adopted by West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamta Banerjee to get debt relief package from the Union Government for her state, however he said that the Centre was duty bound to bail out the debt stressed states of the country in general and Punjab in particular, as the state has incurred huge loss due to nation’s war against terrorism. He reiterated that the Union government must disburse the Central grants in proportion to the share of taxes collected from the states as it would provide the required fillip for the development of the states.

Replying to another query Sardar Badal said that the candidate for the Dasuya assembly segment, which had vacated due to sad demise of Mr Sahi, would be decided by the state BJP leadership and SAD would abide by the decision of their alliance partner. He categorically said that the SAD-BJP alliance was fully prepared for the bye-election of this assembly constituent scheduled to be held in the next month.

Earlier addressing the gathering on the occasion, Sardar Badal exhorted the leadership of all parties present there to work hard for preserving the communal harmony, peace and amity in the state. He said that it was unfortunate that the anti Punjab forces, which were envy of the development and progress of the state, were making nefarious designs to disturb the hard earned peace of the state thereby retarding its growth process. However Sardar Badal said that it was the duty of the combined political leadership of the state to join hands in curbing the ugly head of such forces by rising above from the parochial political considerations. “The state has already suffered adversely during the black days of militancy so need of the hour was to join hands for avoiding any such situation in the future” added Sardar Badal.     

Paying glorious tributes to the departed soul, Sardar Badal said that the sad demise of Mr Sahi was an irreparable loss to the alliance as it has lost its energetic leader who was very popular amongst the general masses. He said that Mr Sahi was epitome of the communal harmony in the state and his sudden death has created a void which would be hardly filled in the near future.

                Offering tributes to Mr Sahi, President of Youth Akali Dal and Cabinet Minister Sardar Bikram Singh Majithia lauded the role played by him in strengthening the SAD-BJP alliance in this assembly segment of Kandi area, once considered to be a strong citadel of the Congress party. Sardar Majithia said that the mammoth gathering converged at the Bhog of Mr Sahi indicates the popularity of this leader amongst the masses. He said that the death of Mr Sahi was not only a huge loss to alliance but a personal one for him. Sardar Majithia assured the family members of late Mr Sahi that he would be ever at their disposal to serve them.

Prominent amongst those who paid tributes to departed soul included Cabinet Ministers Sardar Bikram Singh Majithia, Mr Chunni Lal Bhagat, Sardar Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Mr Anil Joshi and Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, National General Secretary of BJP Mr JP Nadda, State BJP President Mr Ashwani Sharma, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries Mr KD Bhandari, Mr Pawan Teenu, Mr Som Parkash, Chaudhary Nand Lal, Mrs Mohinder Kaur Josh and Mr Desh Raj Dhugga, MLAs Sardar Gurbachan Singh Babbehali, Sardar Gurtej Singh Balluana and Sardar Gurpratap Singh Wadala, Rajya Sabha MP Mr Ashwani Khanna, former Union Minister Sardar Balwant Singh Ramoowalia besides several leaders and workers of SAD-BJP alliance.