Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s immediate predecessor Amarinder Singh has urged him to rise above political considerations and depart from the stand taken by the NDA over the Indo-US nuclear deal in the country’s interest.
In a letter faxed to Badal yesterday the former Punjab chief minister said though he was aware it was difficult for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to make a choice as it was a constituent of the NDA, it was time to put the nation’s interest above all political considerations.
Asking Badal to take a firm stand in the interest of the country and the state, the Congress leader reminded him of his tough stand on the river water issue during his tenure as the chief minister.
“I also faced a similar situation on the river waters issue. The option before me was either to safeguard the interest of the people of Punjab, thereby risking my job as Chief Minister, or to let my state and our people down. As you are aware, I decided to defend the interest of Punjab”, he said.
Badal, however, has already ruled out SAD MPs voting in favour of the Congress-led UPA during the trust vote on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in Parliament next week.
The political affairs committee of SAD which has eight members in the Lok Sabha will meet here this evening to finalise the stand to be taken by the party when the UPA goes for a trial of strength in the house next week over the nuclear deal. PTI
Posted By Staff Reporter
in Punjab News
0 comments