Latest news with #SAD-BJP
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
SAD-BJP ‘conspiring' to return to power in Punjab: Cheema
Chandigarh: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing both of "conspiring" to return to power in Punjab through an "unprincipled alliance". The minister said in the past, the SAD-BJP alliance had led to the "betrayal and destruction" of Punjab's youth, economy, and social fabric. Cheema said the BJP and Akali Dal leaders were "restless and desperate" to regain power in Punjab, constantly hinting at renewing their alliance despite the denials from the SAD chief and the BJP national leaders' claim that they would contest alone. "It was under the SAD-BJP govt that drugs were deliberately introduced in Punjab, systematically ruining an entire generation — a conspiracy hatched jointly by the SAD and the BJP to destroy Punjab's youth. Gangster culture was actively nurtured by these very parties," he alleged. There are speculations of a possible revival of the ties between the SAD and the BJP after Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar, on Sunday, sought an alliance to ensure communal harmony in the state.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab Land Pooling Policy: ‘Pass resolutions that you will not part with your land', Sukhbir Badal tells panchayats
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday asked village panchayats to pass resolutions that they would not give their land to the AAP government under its land pooling policy. Terming it a 'land-grabbing scheme', Badal said his party would not allow even one inch of land to be acquired in the state come what may. Addressing a 'dharna' outside the deputy commissioner's office in Ludhiana, Badal demanded the immediate revocation of AAP government's plan to acquire 40,000 acres of land under its land pooling policy. He said SAD would intensify the agitation against the 'land grab' by holding weekly 'dharnas', with protests being held on July 28 in Mohali and on August 4 in Bathinda. Badal also accused AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal of being behind this 'loot in league with builders of Delhi who had been promised large land parcels as per their wishes'. 'I warn the chief secretary, who has been made chairman of all development authorities, as well as their members that they would be held accountable for illegalities being committed in land acquisition processes in the state,' he added. Badal claimed that the AAP government proposed to acquire 40,000 acres of land, including 24,000 in Ludhiana itself, under the archaic State Land Acquisition Act, 1995 instead of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. He said the 1995 law allowed for excluding land parcels from acquisition and lease as well as allowing auction or allotment of land as per the wishes of the ruling dispensation. 'This will open the doors for corruption and allow select parcels to be excluded from auction at the whims and fancies of the government. In direct contrast, the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 calls for giving compensation at four times the collector rate besides a resettlement scheme,' he said, claiming that under the land-pooling policy, the small farmers will be the biggest losers. 'Those possessing 50 acres of land would be eligible to get back 60 per cent of the same, whereas those possessing nine acres would only get 33 per cent back. Farmers would additionally not be allowed to sell the land, take loan on it or undertake change of land use (CLU) once the notification for acquisition is done', he said. Senior party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had tried to justify the policy. He said if the policy had been made keeping in mind the welfare of farmers then the chief minister should tell why he has been replaced as chairman of development authorities and gave this post to the chief secretary. On the issue of sacrilege incidents in 2015, when the SAD-BJP government was in power, Badal said such incidents started in Punjab only after the advent of AAP in the state in 2014. He said the issue of sacrilege was used to defame the SAD by both the AAP and the Congress to stop the Akali juggernaut, which would have otherwise swept the state for the third successive term in 2017. He said these elements did not allow a state probe into the cases of sacrilege and demanded they be handed over to the CBI. 'We transferred the cases to the CBI from where they were taken back by the Congress. Since then only politics has been done on this sensitive issue by both the AAP and Congress even as the culprits roam free,' Badal said. In stark contrast, he said, the SAD had got to the bottom of both Moga and Malerkotla sacrilege cases and ensured conviction. Badal also accused Kejriwal of supporting AAP MLA legislator Naresh Yadav, who was accused of committing the Malerkotla sacrilege. 'The AAP government forced the complainant to take back his complaint. Later despite being convicted, Kejriwal re-nominated Yadav for the party ticket from Mehrauli (in Delhi). All this only goes on to prove that AAP leaders had a hand in sacrilege incidents. We will get to the bottom of this once the SAD forms the government and punish the perpetrators', he said.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
As Punjab BJP chief makes emotive pitch for alliance revival, mixed reactions from Akali side
There is a fresh buzz around a possible revival of the ties between the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, long-term allies who fell apart during the farm law protests. The speculation isn't new. Last year too, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, talks of a SAD-BJP revival had gained traction in political circles. Back then, BJP state president Sunil Jakhar had said 'if the SAD-BJP alliance happens, it will be as per the emotion of masses'. However, the parties eventually decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections independently amid fresh farmers' protests on the Punjab-Haryana border, with the BJP-led Central government under fire for holding out on the demand for legally guaranteed minimum support prices (MSP). As the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab draw near, the conversation around the alliance has returned, with Jakhar this time reiterating the need for a SAD-BJP partnership. 'The alliance in the state is the need of the hour as forces inimical to Punjab are once again active,' said Jakhar. Making an emotive pitch for the alliance, Jakhar said, 'Punjab is not just a state — it's a deeply emotional and self-respecting society. Punjabis are resilient, proud of their history, and driven by sentiment. But over time, they feel they have been wronged, their sacrifices unrecognised, and their contributions overlooked. They seek more than financial packages… They seek recognition, respect, and a sense of belonging.' 'Pagri means not only turban, but also symbolises 'sardari' — self-esteem. The people of Punjab need a party that speaks from the heart, not just as administrators but as one of their own. That's where the BJP needs to position itself — with young, credible, honest, and uncompromised leaders who represent the spirit of Punjab. Our focus should not be about electoral gains, but gaining the trust of Punjabis,' Jakhar added. However, not all on the Akali side have welcomed the idea. While leaders of a rebel SAD faction dismissed the alliance proposal, the Sukhbir Badal-led party took a cautious line. Daljeet Singh Cheema, a former state minister and senior leader in the Sukhbir-led SAD, said, 'Jakhar sahab's statement reflects public sentiment and his personal political experience. We too sense this sentiment — rural and urban Punjab both desire a stable and secular government. However, whether or not an alliance is formed will be decided on the party platform after evaluating many factors.' However, Charanjeet Singh Brar, a senior leader from the rebel faction of the SAD that has aligned with the Akal Takht (which is the highest seat of Sikh temporal authority and had last year held Sukhbir guilty of religious misconduct), questioned Jakhar's eagerness. 'Why is Sunil Jakhar in such a hurry for an alliance when the Akali Dal is at its all-time low? What about unresolved issues — the control of gurdwara committees in Haryana and Delhi, Sikh prisoners who have completed their sentences but remain in jail, and the pending Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) elections for over 15 years?' Brar said. A senior leader from the same rebel faction, speaking on condition of anonymity, also challenged Jakhar's contention that the 'public sentiment and political situation is similar to that of 1996', the year the SAD and BJP first came together. 'How can Jakhar equate the 1996 conditions with today? Back then, the SAD was strong and the BJP was emerging. Now, the SAD is at its weakest while the BJP is at its peak nationally. Is this eagerness for an alliance with the Akali Dal or the Badal family?' the leader said. The SAD-BJP alliance was first forged in 1996, at a time when Punjab was recovering from a period of Khalistani militancy. In the 1997 state elections, the alliance won a thumping majority with 95 seats in the 117-member Assembly. After the alliance broke in 2020, the parties contested the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha polls independently, but neither tasted success. Though the BJP's vote share has improved over the years, it has not translated into seats. Since falling out of power in 2017, the SAD's influence and vote bank have eroded as it faced a series of controversies – from the sacrilege cases in 2015 to last year's standoff between Sukhbir and the Akal Takht. In the 2022 Assembly polls, the SAD and BJP won three and two seats respectively. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the SAD won only one seat while the BJP failed to win any. In subsequent bypolls too, the two parties failed to make an impact. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said they were not worrying about the old allies coming together. Neel Garg, senior AAP spokesperson, said, 'Zero plus zero equals zero. Since 1996, when the alliance was formed, Punjab has seen a downfall in farming, panthic norms, and federal values. The Akali Dal hit rock bottom due to incidents like the Bargari sacrilege, where culprits were never arrested. The BJP's role in pushing the three farm laws led to the loss of over 750 farmers' lives. Punjab hasn't forgotten and won't forgive.' Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring echoed the AAP's sentiments. 'Sunil Jakhar has a hidden alliance with the Akali Dal already… Why did the BJP break the alliance with the SAD in the first place? Earlier they thought they could do something on their own in Punjab, and now that they are being shown the ground realities by voters … they have started remembering communal harmony all of a sudden. The Akali Dal is already dead and hence zero plus zero is equal to zero only.'
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Akali workers barge into Congress office over MLA Pargat's remarks in Jalandhar
Tensions prevailed in Jalandhar when the workers of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) barged into the office of the district Congress committee on Thursday after statements of Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh emerged in which he alleged that there was a 'deliberate delay' during the previous Capt Amarinder Singh government in the state in 'providing justice' in sacrilege incidents. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) protesting in Jalandhar. The Akali workers, accompanied by youth Akali Dal activists, burnt effigies of the Congress leaders, alleging that Pargat Singh has exposed Congress' anti-Sikh stance. YAD president Sarabjeet Singh Jhinjer said the Congress has a proven track record of being anti-Sikh from the 1984 riots to Operation Bluestar. 'The Congress has a long history of hurting Sikh sentiments. Now, with Congress MLA Pargat Singh admitting that the Congress government deliberately delayed justice in sacrilege cases for political gain, it reaffirms our stand that the party holds deep-rooted hatred toward the Sikh community,' he said. He added that it is highly shameful that the Congress played politics on such a sensitive issue involving the sacrilege of holy granths. 'During their five years in power, they deliberately stalled justice just for cheap political gains. Pargat Singh must come forward and name those in the Congress government who were responsible for this delay,' the SAD leaders said. Meanwhile, the president of the Jalandhar district Congress committee, Rajinder Beri, condemned the lawlessness created by Akali Dal workers at the party's office. 'They had no right to barge into our party office and hold a protest. Everyone knew the fact that serious sacrilege incidents happened during the SAD-BJP rule, and it was their leaders who orchestrated it with the help of fringe elements,' he said. The party demanded stringent action against the Akali workers for creating a ruckus in the Congress office.
Time of India
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
From Gutka oath to FIRs: Drug debate turns personal in Punjab vidhan sabha as Harpal Singh Cheema, Partap Singh Bajwa exchange barbs
Chandigarh: The Punjab assembly turned into a battleground on Tuesday as a fierce and deeply personal debate unfolded over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt's war on drugs. What began as a discussion on the war against drugs led by finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema soon spiralled into a flurry of allegations, counter-allegations, and emotional outbursts, dragging in leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, and others. Cheema kicked off by delving into the roots of the drug menace, tracing it to the tenures of previous regimes. He accused the Congress (2002–2007), led by then CM Captain Amarinder Singh, and the SAD-BJP govt (2007–2017) under Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal, of allowing drugs to infiltrate Punjab. "Before 2007, people only knew opium and 'bhukki'. After that, heroin, smack, and 'chitta' became household terms," said Cheema, holding former Capt Amarinder Singh, and the Badals responsible for the mushrooming of drug cartels. He claimed that under the SAD-BJP rule (2007–2017), drug mafia expanded unchecked, forcing families to send their children abroad. Cheema lambasted Congress for failing to act even after Capt Amarinder Singh, ahead of the 2017 assembly elections, swore on the Gutka Sahib to eliminate drugs within four weeks. "He failed to act. The Congress high command replaced him with Charanjit Singh Channi, yet the problem remained," Cheema said. Defending AAP's efforts, he highlighted that during 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' (war against drugs), which began on March 1, 13,665 cases were registered against drug traffickers and 21,977 arrests were made, with Rs 11 crore seized in drug money. "When action was taken against prominent offenders, Congress leaders jumped to defend them," he said. Cheema attempted to play a video of former CM Channi allegedly linking Majithia to drugs, but Bajwa objected, asking under which rule a video of a non-member could be played in the vidhan sabha. "Is this a movie theatre?" he asked. Cheema stopped the clip but referenced past debates where, he claimed, Channi equated "chitta" with Majithia. Bajwa accused Cheema of vendetta politics and retaliated: "You filed an FIR against me for a TV interview where I said 50 bombs entered Punjab—18 exploded, 32 are unaccounted for. On whose behest was the FIR registered, Awami League of Pakistan?" asked Bajwa. Cheema fired back: "Bajwa has ties with Pakistan's Awami League. If you mess with us, we will respond firmly." Later, Cheema shared a post by Bajwa on X, accusing him of siding with Manjithia. "It shows you are with them," he said. "We are not afraid of FIRs. Even if Bajwa joins BJP and files a murder case, we will not back down," Cheema said. Bajwa clarified his position in the doctored video circulated by AAP leaders Cheema, Aman Arora, and others, which resulted in FIRs against them. "The original video was mine. I supported MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia over the manner of the raid at her home. I never extended support to her husband," Bajwa said. "Under no circumstances am I with Bikramjit Singh Majithia." He reminded the house that he was the first to move court against Majithia when he was PPCC president 11 years ago and asked the then CM, Parkash Singh Badal, to get the Bhola drug case probed by CBI. "I said then, and I say now, we will tie a noose around Majithia's neck. I never got the chance to act—but if I had, I would have done it long ago," he said. Bajwa held that an NDPS case was registered against Majithia during the Congress govt, but the Supreme Court granted him relief as elections were around the corner. Bajwa added he was arrested by the AAP govt and was released on bail and was later again arrested. Bajwa said Majithia's subsequent arrests under the DA case instead of NDPS had weakened the campaign against him. Punjab rural development and panchayats minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond said the state govt's campaign had significantly weakened the nexus. Cheema vs Khaira: NDPS Case Reignites Cheema targeted Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira over his name in a 2015 NDPS case involving his aide Gurdev Singh Dabi. Khaira rebutted, stating that the Supreme Court stayed the trial, and pointed out that even Bhagwant Mann, then an MP, called it "political vendetta". Cheema responded, "A stay is not an acquittal." Tempers Flare: Avtar Singh Junior's Outburst Congress MLA Avtar Singh Junior lost his cool after a treasury bench member allegedly accused him of being involved in the drug trade. Avtar resorted to using foul language, drawing strong objections from treasury benches. After commotion, speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan directed a review of the proceedings, during which the use of inappropriate language by the Congress legislator was confirmed, what Avtar admitted. The speaker then sought a resolution for action against the legislator. However, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa intervened, explaining the circumstances that led to the outburst. He also tendered an apology on Avtar's behalf, which was accepted. SAD's Ayali for collective fight SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali took a more assuaging tone, saying no govt can support sacrilege or drug trade, but stressed that any political leader involved in drugs must face strict action—regardless of their position. He called for cross-party unity to fight the menace.
