THANK RAHUL FOR REMINDING BJP OF ALLIES: JAKHAR TO SAD

CHANDIGARH : : Taking a dig at the upcoming meeting of BJP national president Amit Shah with former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Badal on Thursday, state Congress head Sunil Jakhar said the Badals should thank Congress president Rahul Gandhi for reminding the saffron party of the importance of allies and coalition dharma.

Addressing a press conference here, Jakhar, who is also Gurdaspur MP, said the arrogance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah had been crushed by the results of recent bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and the Congress’ performance in Gujarat and Karnataka. “Poll reverses have jolted the BJP. It is now trying to reach out to allies whom it had completely sidelined. Badal should write to the Congress president thanking him for reminding the BJP of coalition dharma.”

He said Rahul had emerged as a major threat to the BJP which had totally ignored the principle of cooperative federalism. “The BJP believes in neither cooperation nor federalism,” he said.

Jakhar said the Badals should not be “awed” by Shah’s decision to come and meet them.

“Both Badal and his son (SAD president) Sukhbir Singh Badal should use it as a golden opportunity and stand up at least once for Punjab’s interests and welfare. As a seasoned leader, Badal should question Shah on issues such as plight of farmers, implementation of the Swaminathan report, fuel prices, the SYL canal, and pendency of ₹1,617 crore for scholarship for SC students,” he said, adding, “They should not be satisfied with another cabinet berth the BJP might offer to placate them.” HTC