Criticising the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for making an alliance with the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) for Haryana assembly elections, BJP national secretary RP Singh on Monday said that by going all out in favour of INLD, the SAD has hurt the BJP leadership.
Singh, who was in the city, said, "I have great respect for Badal Sahib (Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal). But today when he says that he is supporting Chautalas due to their strong ties with the family, I would like to ask him whether he has forgotton the strong ties he had with former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and (senior BJP leader) Advani."
To a question, Singh, who has campaigned for the saffron party in Haryana, said, "If the Akali Dal wanted to support INLD, they could have simply announced that we are supporting that party. But the situation is that Badal is himself visiting Haryana villages and campaigning in a big way."
He further said, "This has definitely hurt the BJP leadership. The BJP has always shown great respect for the Akali Dal, specially Badal Sahib. In 2007 and 2012 Punjab polls, BJP did well and played a pivotal role in formation of the SAD-BJP Government in Punjab".
When asked to respond on the onslaught launched by BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu against SAD, Singh said, "Sidhu has his own style and way of highlighting issues. As far as I am concerned I can say that the Akali Dal must have shown some restraint and not gone all out to support the INLD, which is opposing BJP in Haryana polls."
{{/usCountry}}When asked to respond on the onslaught launched by BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu against SAD, Singh said, "Sidhu has his own style and way of highlighting issues. As far as I am concerned I can say that the Akali Dal must have shown some restraint and not gone all out to support the INLD, which is opposing BJP in Haryana polls."
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