BJP persuaded Akalis to split, says Congress chief in Punjab

Responding to Shiromani Akali Dal cutting ties with the BJP, Congress president in Punjab Sunil Jakhar said that BJP had foreseen their move and accelerated the split through contemptuous and dismissive behaviour. He added that the Akalis were desperate for a rebound move from BJP, but never got any.

Chandigarh: Responding to Shiromani Akali Dal core committee's decision to break ties with its oldest ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar on Sunday said that there was already a rift within the Akal Dal. He added that the Akalis are afraid of farmer's furore over the farm bill and on the other hand, they are equally scared of antagonising Prime Minister.

“Akalis did not want to break ties with BJP and were keen to maintain the pretence of an alliance. They did not walk out of the BJP-led NDA even when they were shown the door in the central cabinet and afterwards, Mrs. Badal still insisted that she was not terming these laws anti-farmer and only farmers had termed these as anti-farmer," Jakhar said.

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The state Congress chief said that Akalis were desperately waiting for some sign of rebound from the BJP. But neither the prime minister nor the BJP attempted to meet and initiate talks with them, he added.

“It was a clear sign that the BJP had foreseen their move and were not willing to accept a loose tie akin to a ‘live-in relationship’. They wanted to get rid of the Akalis but did not want to be perceived as initiators of this ‘break-up’. BJP’s contemptuous and dismissive behaviour made the commotion and left Akalis with no choice but to walk off the coalition with a bit of semblance of self-respect if any, which was already in tatters, Jakhar said.