SAD skips NDA meet, says RSS interfering in affairs of gurdwaras

NEW DELHI: BJP was left embarrassed on Thursday with one of its oldest allies, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), skipping the NDA meeting on the eve of Budget presentation over alleged RSS interference in management of gurdwaras and also demanded a package for farmers.

SAD’s Rajya Sabha MP and spokesperson Naresh Gujral said the party wanted to attend the NDA meeting to chalk out the strategy for the Budget session but “skipped” it over RSS interference in management of gurdwaras.

“We are extremely upset and hurt by what is happening in Hazur Sahib in Nanded. The RSS should not interfere in religious issues related to Sikhs. We have also been demanding a package for farmers,” Gujral said.

Asked about SAD’s no-show, parliamentary affairs minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the ally had informed in advance that it would not attend the meeting due to some prior engagement. “SAD attended the all-party meeting and had conveyed in advance about its absence in the NDA meet. There are no differences among us,” he added.

SAD general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa had recently threatened to walk away from the alliance alleging RSS interference in gurdwara affairs and had said the party could go to any extent to protect their religious practices. However, BJP insiders said they would sort out SAD’s concerns.

The Akalis have toughened their stance at a time when Shiv Sena is involved in hard bargaining in Maharashtra demanding more Lok Sabha seats and has refused to play second fiddle to BJP.

In the NDA meeting and the BJP parliamentary party meeting, lawmakers suggested that there should be more time for discussion on the President’s speech and they also resolved to pitch strongly for passage of key legislations including triple talaq bill and Citizenship bill.