SAD’s Sarna to support Cong, says BJP did nothing for Sikhs

New Delhi: The Shiromani Akali Dal (Delhi) on Thursday vowed support to the Congress in Delhi for the assembly elections slated for December 4.

The leader of the outfit, Paramjit Singh Sarna — a former president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee — claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has done nothing for the Sikhs.

Another faction of the Akalis led by the Badals is fighting the Delhi Assembly polls in alliance with the BJP.

Sarna said: “The BJP did nothing to get justice for the victims of the 1984 genocide. The Congress has not only accepted some of the demands made by the Sikhs but also recognised the sacrifice of Guru Tegh Bahadur by building a huge memorial.”

SAD (Delhi) has been traditional supporters of the Congress. Sarna had played a crucial role in bringing fourtime legislator Harsharan Singh Balli to the Congress fold after he was denied ticket to recontest.

He said the BJP has fielded just one Sikh candidate for 70-member Delhi Assembly while the Congress has given tickets to six Sikhs.

SAD (Delhi) and SAD (Badal) are archrivals in Delhi’s gurudwara politics. Sarna alleged that the Badal group is also misusing gurdwara committee’s machinery to win the elections.

“About 300 students and staff of committee’s educational institutions are working round the clock for them. They are also misusing committee’s vehicles, laptops and other assets. Their workers are given food prepared at the gurdwaras,” Sarna alleged.

Source: HT