The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday took a serious note of Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira opposing the donation of Rs. 1 crore to The Lawrence School, Sanawar (Himachal Pradesh), terming it a heritage institution of national importance.
"What is wrong if Sukhbir
Singh Badal gave a token of affection to a reputed school of the country to promote quality education?" SAD spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said in a statement here. He stated that the school had given a number of luminaries to the country and even now a large number of students from Punjab were studying there.
"The Congress, a national party, is hell bent on dividing the country on regional lines," Cheema said, arguing that the Congress had tried to draw a regional divide between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh by criticising the SAD president (Sukhbir) for funding the school from the state exchequer.
The Congress, he said, had come down to "petty political gains" by giving such statements.
Cheema asked the Congress high command and the party's Himachal unit to clear their stand on the issue of funding of the Sanawar school.
"The SAD president's action is also aimed at promoting goodwill among the two neighbouring states," he added.