After attack on Punjab MLA, BJP sends SAD a warning

CHANDIGARH, MAY 12: After Sunday’s violent clash at Tarn Taran in which its local MLA Anil Joshi was attacked, the BJP on Monday lashed out at partner Akali Dal, saying it should not take the alliance for granted. The existence of the coalition Government was not as dear to it as the dignity of its party workers, the BJP said. The party has called an emergency meeting of its core group tomorrow, followed by a meeting of all MLAs, to discuss the developments.

Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia said he had apprised senior BJP leader L K Advani of the “crisis”. “The behaviour of SAD will have an adverse impact on the ruling alliance... The SAD cannot take the BJP for a ride. The party can go to any extent to protect its workers.”

Without naming the Akali Dal, BJP state president Rajinder Bhandari said: “The BJP vehemently opposes the politics of grabbing power by means of violence and muscle power.” He added that even today BJP state executive members D P Chandan, Mohit Gupta and Naveen Singla were attacked. The ties between the partners have been strained with the two fielding candidates against each other on several seats. There were clashes between BJP and Akali workers ahead of the block samiti elections.

At the bottom of the rift is the BJP’s attempts to make a mark in the rural areas of the state, which are an Akali stronghold. The BJP is concerned as its hold over the urban areas has been slipping, with the party winning just 35 per cent of the seats it contested in the corporation elections in Ludhiana and only 44 per cent in Amritsar.

Kalia also criticised Punjab DGP N P S Aulakh for Monday’s clashes, saying these could have been averted had he been accessible. “I called him up several times after I learnt about the clashes at Tarn Taran. Both his mobile numbers were switched off. Ten days ago, I urged him to provide security to our general secretaries given the nature of the elections, but to no avail.”

Two killed in panchayat poll violence

Two persons were killed and 20 injured, mainly in clashes between SAD (B) and Congress activists, as violence on Monday marred panchayat polls in Punjab. The polls, which saw a 67 per cent turnout, were seen as a litmus test for Sukhbir Singh Badal, who took over reins of the Akali Dal early this year, and a referendum on the policies and programmes of the SAD-BJP Government in the state.

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