No rift or cracks in SAD-BJP alliance: BJP

The BJP today ruled out any possibility of a rift with its ally Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab, saying the two political parties are "old friends."
BJP's National Secretary Rameshwar Chaurasia, an MLA from Bihar, said here that there was no question of a break up with the SAD in Punjab as it was a "long-time tested friendship".
"The Akali Dal was one of the founder members of the NDA and its most trusted and old friend," he said.
The comments by the BJP leader assume significance in the backdrop of recent utterances against its ally SAD by Punjab's BJP minister Anil Joshi. He had lambasted SAD for imposing 'advance tax' on traders.

"If any differences existed, these would be sorted out within the coalition partners," Chaurasia added.
The BJP leader was in the city in connection with the abduction of a Bihari girl, from Ludhiana two months ago. He along with the parents of the girl met senior police officers of the city.

Chaursia told reporters that the new team of the national office bearers of the party could be announced any time after August 9, the day on which meeting of the national council of the BJP would ratify the appointment of Amit Shah as president of the party.
He said that the list of the new office bearers was being finalised with the consultation of other senior leaders of the party.

Chaurasia, who is also co-incharge of political affairs of the BJP in Uttar Pardesh, held the state government there as solely responsible for the recent violence in Saharanpur.
He said inspite of court orders in favour of Gurudwara management the administration not only remained a silent spectator to all violence but also allowed a big procession of mob to proceed.
He said that UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav must give up "partisan attitude to communalism".
The Centre was prepared to extend all type of help to the government in Uttar Pardesh to curb communal violence, he said.