SAD to campaign for BJP: CM

Badal said that the party would do its utmost to give a stunning defeat to their worst enemy Congress Party.

Talking to media persons after a public rally, he said that he would raise all the pending Punjab issues with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee early next month. He reitrated that his party would continue its fight on the issues of Chandigarh, Punjab river waters and Punjabi speaking areas left out in Haryana.

Badal clarified that his party would oppose tooth and nail the decision of merging of Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed hill state of Uttaranchal. “However, the UP Assembly has recommended the inclusion of Udham Singh Nagar in Uttranchal but that does not mean that we will allow the Union Government to act upon it”, he said.

Badal urged all the political parties to oppose the imposition of Article 356 in any part of the country. He, however, expressed hope that with the able President K.R.Naryanan returning such a bill twice, a trend would be set that no party would dare misuse it in future.

To a question, he said that in the wake of damage of crops due to rains, the government had decided to relax the levy conditions on paddy by October 10. He, however, admitted that the crop insurance scheme was the only solution to the woes of farmers.

Badal was here to inaugurate an eye operation camp, organised by the local Lions Club. Earlier, he also declared a basket ball stadium open. He also announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for this stadium.

MOGA: Parkash Singh Badal expressed optimism that the BJP would concede to its demand on seat-sharing at the ensuing legislative elections in Delhi and Rajasthan. Badal said here that negotiations on the matter were on with its coalition partner at the Centre. “During the last elections, we had made a similar request (on seat-sharing) which did not work out, but this time we are hopeful that something positive will happen,” he told newspersons last evening.

Delhi and Rajasthan are among four states which go to polls on November 25.

Referring to the Adampur by-election in the state, which was necessitated by the death of Akali Minister Sarup Singh last month, the Chief Minister said his party would field a “suitable” candidate and try its “level best” to win the hustings.