SAD-BJP alliance firm, enjoying cordial relationship: Badal

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said that the SAD-BJP alliance was very firm and both the parties were enjoying cordial relationship.
"No one should have any doubt regarding it," he asserted.
Badal's comments came days after senior BJP leader Balramji Dass Tandon reportedly questioned Badal's visit to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi without taking state BJP leaders along.
The five-time Chief Minister said that as a head of the state, every Chief Minister could meet the Prime Minister and Union Ministers at any time, as the sole motive of these meetings was to ensure the welfare and development of the state.

"However, I have no objection if any leader accompanies me to such meetings in New Delhi," the 86-year-old leader said while talking to reporters in his assembly segment Lambi in Muktsar district today.
Meanwhile, Badal slammed the Congress government in Haryana for its move to constitute separate body for the management of Gurudwara affairs in the state.

"This move is in accordance with age long policy of the Congress party to divide and rule. By initiating this step Congress is again trying to divide the Sikh community, which will not be tolerated at any cost," he said.
Badal said that the Amritsar based SGPC was the supreme body of the Sikhs, being the apex religious body, which came into existence after countless sacrifices and no one would be allowed to bifurcate it.

"The countrymen have rejected the divisive policies of the Congress party, but its leadership has not learnt any lesson from it," he added.
Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to make Punjab a drug free state, the Chief Minister sought the proactive support of people for this cause.
He said that the village Panchayats should also play a pivotal role in eradicating this menace from the state for a healthy and drug-free Punjab.
Replying to a query regarding power supply in the state, the Chief Minister said that requisite arrangements have been made to supply uninterrupted power to the farmers during the ongoing paddy season.