CHANDIGARH: The decision of Akali Dal (Badal) to extend unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party at the national level has evoked mixed reaction.
On the expected lines, state BJP president Balramji Dass Tandon said the people of Punjab would certainly hail this decision as a historic one as the victory of Akali Dal (Badal) candidates and the total rout of Akali Dal (Amritsar), headed by Simranjit Singh Mann, is a clear indication and declaration by the people that they are totally against the secessionist slogans.
‘He felt this decision would certainly go a long way in cementing the ties of the Punjabis and give a big boost to trade and industry in the state.
He said the Congress Government in Punjab should resign immediately ‘on moral grounds and seek a fresh mandate from the people.
‘The human rights activists have expressed surprise over the unconditional support extended by Akali Dal (Badal) to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a statement, Dr. Sukhjeet Kaur Gill, Narinder Singh, a former Major General and Gurdarshan Singh Dhillon said this was nothing short of an ideological surrender to a party which had been so vocal in demanding the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, the track record of the BJP in relation to Punjab over the language issue, Operation Bluestar and state repression has been full of hostility.
‘They regretted that obsessed with personal ambition, Akali Dal (Badal) president Parkash Singh Badal seems to be heading for a course where future of the party and Punjab would-be nothing but dark. ‘The unconditional compromise with the BJP could, no doubt, ensure the protection of com: Inertial interests of Badal, particularly in Haryana.
They expressed the view that the Party should have rather opted for the Regional parties like the DMK, AGP and Telegu Desam which stand for total autonomy to the states. Finance Minister Kewal Krishan said that the two communal forces have Joined hands to destroy the social fabric of the nation, Describing it as ‘an Opportunistic move, he said this would divide the people on communal lines.
He reminded the BJ? Leaders that this was the same Akali party which always worked against the interests ‘Of Punjab and Punjabi at.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 22, 1996
