SAD chief says sit-in at Harike Pattan to go on till demands

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced that the party's ongoing sit-in protest, at Harike Pattan in Ferozepur, against "registration of false cases" against its leaders and workers would continue till those cases are withdrawn and other demands are met.
A Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spokesman here alleged that the cases were registered at the insistence of the Congress- led government in the state.
He said the dharna was also against "non-cancellation of the election process at four places where Akali workers were not allowed to file their nomination papers for the upcoming civic polls."
The spokesperson said the SAD president, who is presently camping in Harike Patan after addressing a dharna at Manawala in Ferozepur has decided to continue the sit-in till the demands are met.

Badal demanded registration of cases against Congress leaders who had allegedly attacked Akali workers yesterday and indulged in arson.
He also demanded immediate countermanding of elections in the Nagar panchayats of Manawala and Makhu besides municipalities of Baghapurana and Ghanaur.
The SAD chief alleged that at all these places the Akali workers were prevented from filing their nomination papers forcibly and that even their nomination papers were torn.
If the government did not take steps immediately, the SAD would be forced to extend the scope of its agitation which was currently taking place only in Harike Patan, Badal said.