E-Paper
Badal bats for poll-linked corporate funding law
Punjab chief minister and patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B) Parkash Singh Badal has called for the introduction of a corporate funding law for elections in the country, saying regulating politically-linked contributions is a must to ensure for free and fair polls.
Punjab chief minister and patron of the Shiromani Akali Dal (B) Parkash Singh Badal has called for the introduction of a corporate funding law for elections in the country, saying regulating politically-linked contributions is a must to ensure for free and fair polls.
Responding to the controversy surrounding Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani's role in making contributions to political parties, Badal said: "See, if there will be funding by a big corporate house, it will definitely interfere and make its presence felt in governments. So, there must be a law to regulate funding by corporate houses."
He also said that it was wrong on BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu's part to skip Narendra Modi's 'Fateh Rally'.
"Sidhu is a BJP leader and he should have not only come on his own, but brought people with him to the rally to make it a success. Why should someone want an invitation for a program which his own party is hosting?," asked Badal.
He also said that it was the policy of the SAD (Badal) not to interfere in the affairs of any other political party, including alliance partner BJP.
He said that it is for the BJP to decide whom it wants to field and whom not to field in the upcoming general elections.
Badal described Modi's rally as highly successful, and predicted that he would be next Prime Minister of the country, as he has the vision and the potential to rule.
