Fighting a lonely battle, till now, against the Sikh protestors following the series of incidents of Guru Granth Sahib’s desecration, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will get BJP’s support for its Sadbhavna Rallies, starting from November 23.
SAD, as a part of damage control exercise, has decided to organise Sadbhavna Rallies across the State.
BJP, which has been pressurising over its ally, the SAD, to act against the guilty in the matter, was earlier reluctant to be a part of Sadbhavna Rallies. However, in a recent meeting between the leaders of the two allies, the saffron brigade has assured the Akali Dal to extend its full support.
The decision was conveyed to the SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal by the BJP state president Kamal Sharma, besides the cabinet ministers including Madan Mohan Mittal, Anil Joshi.
The Akali Dal was under fire following the controversy over Akal Takht’s decision to pardon Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh — a decision allegedly engineered by the SAD with an eye on 2017 polls.
The situation worsened following back-to-back incidents of sacrilege of Sikhs’ holy book. Before that, the state witnessed its worst-ever farmer stir.
By organising these rallies, the SAD was hoping to reorganise its traditional vote base — including the Sikh voters, farmers, among others.
SAD had announced to organise rallies at Bathinda on November 23, followed by Moga on November 28, Gurdaspur on December 1, Jalandhar on December 4, Tarn Taran on December 7, and Amritsar on December 20.