SAD on Delhi polls: It was BJP's wish whether it wanted to take us along or not

Justifying the decision of not contesting the Delhi Assembly polls, the SAD on Wednesday said it was the BJP's wish whether they wanted to take them along or not.

The party said they wanted to contest the elections in alliance with the BJP but were left with only two options--either to reconsider the stance over the amended citizenship act or decide against contesting the polls.

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

However, the Shiromani Akali Dal on Wednesday made it clear that its alliance with the saffron party in Punjab was intact.

"Our party wanted to go ahead with them (BJP). But it was their wish whether they wanted to take us along or not. Therefore, the local (Delhi) unit which took a decision under those circumstances was right," SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said while talking to media here after the core committee meeting of the party.

SAD leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who was also present in the meeting, said the party was fully prepared to contest Delhi Assembly elections.

Sirsa, however, said the Akali Dal was asked to reconsider its stand on the CAA.

"We always said that the Muslim community be included in the CAA but the BJP on this issue said there was resentment among their workers and leaders over their (SAD) stand and they should reconsider it," Sirsa said.

"Then two options were left, either we reconsider our stand over the CAA or decide against contesting the polls," said Sirsa, adding that the party went for the second option instead of "deviating" from their ideology.

Replying to a question, former state minister Daljit Cheema said, "The alliance between both parties (SAD and BJP) is intact in Punjab."
A resolution passed at a special meeting of the committee chaired by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal here said, "We support the Act in as far as it grants protection and safeguards to the Sikhs and several other communities, including the Hindus."