AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) last week shifted its stand “on giving unconditional support to it he BIP Government and said that ~ once the Government passed the confidence motion, the support will be given on the basis of issues.

Parkash Singh Badal, president of the SAD while addressing 8 press conferences here at SGPC headquarters said that unconditional support was wanted only for the confidence motion. But the SAD would support the BJP sun on the issue of selection ‘of Speaker, he said.

Badal had gone with newly elected members of Parliament belonging to his part to pay obeisance at the Golden: ‘Temple, He was accompanied by SGPC, president, Gurcharan Singh Tohra and former president of Akali Dal Jagdev Singh Talwandi.

While commenting on his party’s decision lo extend support to the BJP Government, Badal said that they had ‘only two alternatives either to support the BJP of National Front which is depending on the Congress support. He said that had the Akali Dal gone with NFLF combine, it would have been betrayal of faith of people of Punjab who had voted against the Congress.

Badal said that Akali Dal MP’s will move a resolution at the first reasonable Opportunity seeking apology from the Government for the Operation Bluestar in 1984, He said that 12th anniversary of Operation Bluestar is ‘OnJune6 and resolution may be moved the same day if Parliament was in session.

Badal said that though his party has always opposed use of Article 356 of the Constitution for dismissal of an elected government but his party would first of all pressurize the BJP Government to dismiss Punjab Government soon after May 31. He justified the dismissal of the State Government on the ground that it was not a popular government. He said that in last Assembly elections voters had exercised their franchise and In Parliament elections, people have clearly rejected the Congress.

Tohra, who was sitting with Badal, said that if the BJP wins the confidence motion on May 31, the Brar Government will not see the morning Of June 1. He said that the Akali Dal Was prepared to contest the Assembly elections.

Akali Dal president while talking of Article 370 said that his party does not favor the BJP Government on the issue of Scrapping Article 370, which gives special rights to Jammu and Kashmir, and centralization of power. He said that the Akali Dal will stand by regional and other parties who Support autonomy.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 22, 1996