All is well between SAD and BJP: Badal

Asserting that SAD-BJP alliance is in the interest of the nation as well as Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said all is well between the partners and that BJP will never sever ties with its "time-tested" ally.
"There is hardly any issue of confrontation between both the parties as the alliance partners have an inbuilt mechanism of solving all the issues amicably," Badal told reporters here on the sidelines of a sports tournament held on the occasion of birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji.
The 86-year-old five-time Chief Minister said ever since the coalition came into existence, BJP has been a part of the state government and "each and every decision has been taken by both the parties with mutual understanding".

The SAD-BJP alliance is in the interest of the country as well as Punjab, he said.
The Chief Minister was asked about reports of friction between the two allies and some leaders from the two parties making statements in the media, fuelling speculations that all is not well between the old allies.
"All is well between both the coalition partners. The BJP leadership is well aware of the fact that SAD is their time-tested ally so there is hardly any question of parting away from each other. BJP leadership will never sever ties with its oldest ally," he said.

"So I request the leaders of both the parties to refrain from issuing statements against each other," he added.

"Since there is no issue of disagreement between the alliance partners, all the rumours regarding the tug of war are highly misleading and merely a creation of media," he claimed.
"Nothing of the sort has happened all of a sudden which can result in severing of ties between the parties. We have always solved every issue amicably and in future also, all the matters will be sorted out in a smooth manner," Badal said.
Talking about his party, Badal said the prime issue before SAD is to preserve communal harmony, peace and brotherhood in the state.
The Chief Minister felicitated people on the occasion.

He said the first Guru of the Sikhs gave the sermon of hard work and community kitchen to the masses, which has played a pivotal role in uniting the people.
Highlighting the importance of sports, the Chief Minister said the state government has given due importance to promote sports in the state for channelising the energy of the youth in a constructive manner.
He said due focus has been laid on popularising kabaddi.
Badal said the state government every year organises World Kabaddi Cup which has enhanced the popularity of the game across the globe.