Responding to reports in a section of local media that Shiromani Akali Dal (longowal) president Surjit Singh Barnala has expressed his intentions to rejoin the SAD, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday said that he was “completely unaware” of the development.
Badal, interacting with the mediapersons after inaugurating the maiden Rural Science Congress of the country organised by Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA) at Badal village, said that he had no inkling about the plans of Barnala to rejoin the Akali Dal. The 84-year-old veteran, who is also the head of SAD, said that he had learnt about the same from reports in a section of the media. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Barnala, who had left the SAD about a decade ago, could not be reached for his version on the reports.
Badal, said that neither the former Chief Minister nor any of his family members had ever met him to express the desire of Barnala to rejoin the Akali Dal. “Any decision regarding the return of Barnala to the SAD fold would be taken by the party,” he added. Replying to a question in Muktsar, Badal rebutted the malicious propaganda of State Congress leadership regarding the politics of vendetta being pursued by the SAD-BJP alliance Government against State Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa.
Badal said that since the beginning of his political career, he had always remained a votary of ‘morality in politics’ and had never believed in the politics of vendetta and confrontation. He said that it was on record that the previous Congress Government led by Capt Amarinder Singh had unleashed a reign of terror against SAD leaders by registering false cases against them whereas his Government was working on constructive agenda to ensure overall development and progress of the State.