After Nitish's attack, SAD puts BJP in tight spot over Bhullar plea
~~Rohan Dua
~~Rohan Dua
Condemning the Supreme Court's order, the memorandum by the Akali Dal leaders said: "In the overall national interest and in the interest of peace and communal harmony in the country in general and in Punjab in particular, the death penalty in this case may be commuted into life imprisonment."
Badal Senior, however, maintained, "I have nothing to do with it (BJP-JD(U) spat) ...We want to make it clear that we are with BJP. But BJP is yet to take a decision (on the prime ministerial candidate)".
However, Punjab BJP president Kamal Sharma on Monday maintained that his party would continue to take a tough stand against anyone convicted of terrorist activities or for waging war against the country. "It is not a question of individuals anymore. Whoever has committed any crime against the country should be treated as per the law of the land," he said.
The meeting between Badal and Manmohan Singh may sour relations between the two alliance partners. The ties between the two were also strained on the issue of Balwant Singh Rajoana last year, when the Badals met the then president Pratibha Patil on March 28, 2012, to seek clemency for the militant.
The Akal Takht, where the Akali Dal wields a significant influence, has already declared Rajoana a "zinda shaheed" (living martyr).
Earlier, the SAD and BJP were twice on collision course when Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had called on Sukhbir Badal for a meeting on September 22 last year, scotching up talks of a likely Third Front.
The meeting between the two had also laid bared the differences between SAD and BJP over the then policy announcement on FDI in multi-brand retail.
While Mulayam had refused to bring a resolution in the Parliament against FDI in multi-brand retail, Sukhbir said that he was open to FDI with certain riders, exposing his party's divergent views with that of the BJP.
Earlier, on November 24, 2011, Sukhbir had written a letter, a copy of which is available with TOI, to Union minister for commerce and industries Anand Sharma, that his party and government would offer "complete support to UPA over FDI that will benefit millions of farmers and youth in Punjab."
"We are delighted to hear that your government is taking a major initiative that will offer tremendous benefits to the farmers and people of my state," the letter said.
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GRAPHIC: FRICTION POINTS: Where SAD, BJP differed:
Badal Senior, however, maintained, "I have nothing to do with it (BJP-JD(U) spat) ...We want to make it clear that we are with BJP. But BJP is yet to take a decision (on the prime ministerial candidate)".
The meeting between Badal and Manmohan Singh may sour relations between the two alliance partners. The ties between the two were also strained on the issue of Balwant Singh Rajoana last year, when the Badals met the then president Pratibha Patil on March 28, 2012, to seek clemency for the militant.
The Akal Takht, where the Akali Dal wields a significant influence, has already declared Rajoana a "zinda shaheed" (living martyr).
Earlier, the SAD and BJP were twice on collision course when Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had called on Sukhbir Badal for a meeting on September 22 last year, scotching up talks of a likely Third Front.
The meeting between the two had also laid bared the differences between SAD and BJP over the then policy announcement on FDI in multi-brand retail.
While Mulayam had refused to bring a resolution in the Parliament against FDI in multi-brand retail, Sukhbir said that he was open to FDI with certain riders, exposing his party's divergent views with that of the BJP.
Earlier, on November 24, 2011, Sukhbir had written a letter, a copy of which is available with TOI, to Union minister for commerce and industries Anand Sharma, that his party and government would offer "complete support to UPA over FDI that will benefit millions of farmers and youth in Punjab."
"We are delighted to hear that your government is taking a major initiative that will offer tremendous benefits to the farmers and people of my state," the letter said.
--
GRAPHIC: FRICTION POINTS: Where SAD, BJP differed:
- April 2013 | Clemency for Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. The Badals met PM on Monday despite BJP's strong stand on death sentence.
- March 2012 | Clemency for militant Balwant Singh Rajoana. The Badals met then President Pratibha Patil.
- September 2012 | Sukhbir Badal met Mulayam Singh Yadav, raising apprehensions of a Third Front.
- November 2011 | Support FDI in multi-brand retail even as BJP took to the streets opposing it.
Courtesy: The Times of India
