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SAD issues whip to party MP's fearing cross voting during trust motion
Satinder Bains
Saturday, 19 July 2008
Faces moral pressure to support Sikh PM
CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD), ruling alliance partner of BJP in Punjab has gone back on its word of not issuing whip to it's MP's for voting against the UPA government on nuclear issue, fearing cross voting by party MP's.
The change of mind of SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal is attibuted to pressure by BJP and moral pressure being built by Congress party on him and Akali MP's MP's to support the first Sikh Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh. SAD being considered repersentative party of Sikhs. To justify opposition of Dr.Manmohan Singh, the SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal had described SAD a secular party. This statement has drawn flak from the hard core Akali factions which have joined the campaign to get support for Dr.Manmiohan Singh.
The Congress party has launched a concerted campaign in the state to build moral pressure on Akalis to vote in favour of Dr.Manmohan Singh who has given a lot to Punjab. PPCC president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said that this was the time for Badal to repay the debt of Dr.Manmohan Singh who has given financial grants worth crores beside approving many important development and education projects including IIT. The series of statements made by Congress leaders and Akali factions seems to have made considerable impact on public mind as well.
Badal had a few days back announced that all SAD MP's are of one opinion to vote against the UPA government and there is no need to issue a whip. The core committee of SAD which met here on July 15 last also endorsed the view of Badal and decided not to issue a whip. There were reports that certain senior leaders had told the party president Sukhbir Singh Badal to support Dr.Manmohan Singh on nuclear issue for two reaons, first SAD has demanded nuclear power plant for Punjab and second Sikhs would not forgive SAD for opposing Sikh Prime Minister. The objections were however over ruled.
The political observers said that Badal had issued statement of voting against UPA government two days before the core committee meeting to give his line of thinking on the issue. The core committee headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal, was left with no choice but to oblige the Badal senior. Three days later, the party has issued a whip to its members to remain present on the Parliament house on July 22 during trust vote and vote against the UPA government.
The decision of SAD to issue whip has become a matter of hot debate in political circles, critics finding reasons for the change of mind of SAD leadership. The moral issue of supporting Sikh Prime Minister has lost its din in the political dust as Badal has insisted that voting on nuclear deal is political issue and its has nothing to do with the Sikh or Non-Sikh Prime Minister.
CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal(SAD), ruling alliance partner of BJP in Punjab has gone back on its word of not issuing whip to it's MP's for voting against the UPA government on nuclear issue, fearing cross voting by party MP's.
The change of mind of SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal is attibuted to pressure by BJP and moral pressure being built by Congress party on him and Akali MP's MP's to support the first Sikh Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh. SAD being considered repersentative party of Sikhs. To justify opposition of Dr.Manmohan Singh, the SAD supremo Parkash Singh Badal had described SAD a secular party. This statement has drawn flak from the hard core Akali factions which have joined the campaign to get support for Dr.Manmiohan Singh.
The Congress party has launched a concerted campaign in the state to build moral pressure on Akalis to vote in favour of Dr.Manmohan Singh who has given a lot to Punjab. PPCC president Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said that this was the time for Badal to repay the debt of Dr.Manmohan Singh who has given financial grants worth crores beside approving many important development and education projects including IIT. The series of statements made by Congress leaders and Akali factions seems to have made considerable impact on public mind as well.
Badal had a few days back announced that all SAD MP's are of one opinion to vote against the UPA government and there is no need to issue a whip. The core committee of SAD which met here on July 15 last also endorsed the view of Badal and decided not to issue a whip. There were reports that certain senior leaders had told the party president Sukhbir Singh Badal to support Dr.Manmohan Singh on nuclear issue for two reaons, first SAD has demanded nuclear power plant for Punjab and second Sikhs would not forgive SAD for opposing Sikh Prime Minister. The objections were however over ruled.
The political observers said that Badal had issued statement of voting against UPA government two days before the core committee meeting to give his line of thinking on the issue. The core committee headed by Sukhbir Singh Badal, was left with no choice but to oblige the Badal senior. Three days later, the party has issued a whip to its members to remain present on the Parliament house on July 22 during trust vote and vote against the UPA government.
The decision of SAD to issue whip has become a matter of hot debate in political circles, critics finding reasons for the change of mind of SAD leadership. The moral issue of supporting Sikh Prime Minister has lost its din in the political dust as Badal has insisted that voting on nuclear deal is political issue and its has nothing to do with the Sikh or Non-Sikh Prime Minister.
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