With the Lok Sabha polls in sight, the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) today reiterated its ‘resolve’ to get Chandigarh, besides other Punjabi-speaking areas in the neighbouring states, seceded to the state.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, here to attend a function held today to mark the 36th death anniversary of Baba Fateh Singh, considered to have played a key role in the formation of Punjab, blamed the Congress for changing the decision to hand over Chandigarh to Punjab “when the issue had reached a terminal stage”, in an apparent reference to a clause of the Rajiv-Longowal accord. “The Chandigarh police had even got the dresses of Punjab police,” said Badal, while talking to the media.

Earlier, former power minister and Akali leader Sikander Singh Malooka too blamed Congress for the “smaller” size of the state. “The Punjab state was demanded on the basis of language and not on the basis of Sikhs residing in the area,” Malooka said, adding that Punjabi-speaking areas extended up to Karnal and Ratia.

Meanwhile, concerned over the less than expected turnout of the people on the occasion, Badal said that from next year, the anniversary of Baba Fateh Singh would be celebrated on a large scale, on the lines of anniversary of Sant Longowal.

Responding to media queries, Badal flayed the recent Mumbai terror attack and said it would be better if the Centre strengthened the police in states rather than going in for a federal agency.

On being asked about reports of noone from the Badal family contesting the Lok Sabha polls, Badal said the matter was yet to be decided.

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