SAD, BJP men trade charges

ROOPNAGAR, Aug 20: The war of words between a section of the ruling Akali Dal and coalition partner BJP seems to have intensified with An...

ROOPNAGAR, Aug 20: The war of words between a section of the ruling Akali Dal and coalition partner BJP seems to have intensified with Anandpur Sahib SGPC member Jarnail Singh Aulakh and the district BJP leaders trading charges against each other.

Even as district BJP president Surinder Nath Sood and general secretary Kamal Nain Kakkar have urged SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal to suspend Aulakh for airing his grievances against Food and Civil Supplies minister Madan Mohan Mittal in public, the latter justified his action saying, "It was aimed at strengthening the Akali party."

Aulakh had earlier organised a meeting of Akali workers of Nangal circle at Bhalri village, where the gathering vowed to boycott poll canvassing in favour of the BJP candidate from Hoshiarpur, Kamal Chaudhary. Aulakh and his supporters had also sought the resignation of Mittal, who represents Nangal Assembly segment of the Hoshiarpur constituency.

Accusing Mittal of meting out "step-motherly treatment" to Akali leaders in the area, Aulakh said they would confine themselves to homes rather than participate in the election campaign. Moreover, the BJP leaders have accused Aulakh of teaming up with All India Shiromani Akali Dal president Gurcharan Singh Tohra. Vehemently denying the charge, Aulakh said it was the BJP district unit "which was conspiring to hamper the poll prospects of Kamal Chaudhary, who had defected from the Congress".