Akali Dal using CAA as excuse to not fight Delhi polls: Rebel leader Dhindsa

Rebel Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa said on Tuesday the party's decision to not contest the Delhi assembly election over the amended citizenship law was an "excuse", claiming that it knew of not winning any seat.

The SAD had announced on Monday that it would not contest the Delhi polls next month after it was asked by ally Bharatiya Janata Party to change its stand on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Dhindsa, wondered why the SAD leadership were "shying away" from fighting the Delhi polls alone if they claimed they had strong influence among the Sikh voters in the region.

"It (not contesting Delhi polls over CAA issue) is just an excuse," the Rajya Sabha MP said. "They had voted for the CAA in Parliament. They knew that they are not going to win and that's why they decided not to contest Delhi polls."
In a press conference in Delhi on Monday, SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa had said: "The Shiromani Akali Dal is of the firm stand that Muslims cannot be left out of the CAA."