Akali Dal can’t be blamed for misdeeds of a few, says Badal
Sunday, 17/11/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131118/punjab.htm#1
Sultanpur Lodhi : Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said the Shiromani Akali Dal could not be blamed for the misdeeds of any individual or a person associated with the party. But bringing such anti-social elements, howsoever powerful they may be, to book was the state government’s duty, said Badal.
He was speaking to mediapersons after inaugurating a 30-bed Community Health Centre here. The Chief Minister was replying to media queries on the alleged involvement of Youth Akali Dal leaders and workers in the synthetic drug racket unearthed following the arrest of former DSP Jagdish Singh Bhola.
“Law will take its own course to penalise drug dealers. The state government is committed towards zero tolerance on drug trafficking,” he said. Badal also did not miss opportunity to hit out at the Centre over the drug menace afflicting Punjab: “The Union Government has failed in effectively checking cross-border drug smuggling.” On the Election Commission’s ban on exit polls till December 4, Badal said such surveys were "imaginary, illusive and unrealistic", and did not reflect the actual picture.
“The exit polls are just imaginary, illusive and unrealistic," he said.
Citing an example, he said in exit polls, the SAD-BJP alliance was projected to lose in the 2012 Punjab assembly elections but the actual picture was completely different and "we were voted to power consecutively for the second record term."
On internal differences, Badal said any constituent, ally or party could have its own views, but that did not amount to a difference.
