BJP PROFOUNDLY VALUES SAD

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the very outset of the meeting with the SAD delegation, expressed his “profound appreciation” of the fact the Akali Dal is the oldest and the “most dependable ally” of the BJP in the entire country.

“This is the oldest, the most durable and time-tested alliance and the BJP profoundly values it,” he said during the meeting.

Modi said that the SAD-BJP alliance “signifies the social and political consensus in Punjab and elsewhere and is a symbol of peace and communal harmony throughout the country, especially in Punjab”.

The assertions assumes significance as the BJP national president Amit Shah is currently reaching out to the BJP allies, including the SAD, ahead the 2019 polls.

Only a day before during SAD’s meeting with Shah, the Akalis had criticized BJP for ignoring it for all these years and not paying heed to Sikh and Punjab specific issues.