Akali Dal to go it alone next time

8220;They the BJP did not fulfill the promises made to the Sikh community and rejected our demand for tickets for the constituencies from where we wanted to contest,8221; Hit said.

While issues like giving official status to the Punjabi language or relaxing the helmet law for Sikh women remained unfulfilled, the BJP did not pay heed to the Akali Dal8217;s recommendations to give Sikhs representation in several committees set up by the Delhi government, he alleged.

Stating that their decision to contest future elections on their own will in no way affect the party8217;s alliance at the Centre, Hit said: 8220;My party has an alliance with the BJP at the national-level. This cannot be be interpreted as a merger8221;.

Hit also demanded reduction of voting age for the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee DSGMC from 21 to 18 years before the next elections that are due in June next.