Sukhbir indulging in double-speak, says Amarinder

CHANDIGARH: Lashing out at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal for his “double-speak” on the resolution against the central ordinances at the all-party meeting against the central ordinances, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday dared him to come out with a categorical statement that his party does not extend even conditional support to it.

“Are you or are you not opposed to the resolution? Are you with the resolution, either totally or conditionally? And finally, do you or do you not agree that agriculture is a state subject and the centre should not interfere,” the CM asked the SAD president in a statement.

The meeting convened by Amarinder had failed to arrive at a consensus on the agri reforms ordinances with the state government and the SAD making claims and counter-claims later. Reacting to the Akalis’ and Sukhbir’s claims on what transpired at the meeting, Amarinder flayed them for misleading the people. The CM said the SAD chief’s support on two of the three points in the resolution passed at yesterday’s all-party meeting was a matter of record. The same was duly and fairly communicated through the government statement, he added.

The CM said while the BJP clearly opposed the resolution, Sukhbir, after initially evading a direct response, interrupted him twice to clarify that he was with the government on the MSP and meeting with PM for clarification.

› The SAD chief’s explicit support on two points in the resolution passed at all-party meeting is a matter of record.

AMARINDER SINGH, chief minister