Amritsar, Sep 11 (IANS): Union Minister and Republican Party of India(A) chief Ramdas Athawale on Friday said the RPI, along with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), should form an alliance to stop the Congress from coming to power in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls.
Speaking to IANS, he said that, given the current law-and-order situation in the state and rising discontent among all sections, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is “certain to depart”.
“The law-and-order situation in Punjab is not good. Bhagwant Mann, who is the Chief Minister from the Aam Aadmi Party, was given power by the people. But in these five years, he has not been able to deliver justice to the people of Punjab. The farmers, the poor, the youth, women, Dalits, Sikh and Hindu communities here are all dissatisfied. I believe the departure of the Aam Aadmi Party is certain, and an NDA government can be formed here,” Ramdas Athawale said.
The Union Minister added: “I personally believe that the BJP and the Akali Dal should come together. Earlier also, they have been in coalition for a long time. So, I think that in order to stop the Congress from coming to power in Punjab, an alliance between BJP, Akali Dal and RPI is necessary.”
Last month, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal’s meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi had triggered fresh speculation about a possible revival of the SAD-BJP alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
While Badal’s office did not disclose the agenda of the meeting, sources within the SAD said that discussions between the leaders focused on issues related to Punjab, including the law-and-order situation in the state and alleged irregularities in welfare schemes under the ruling AAP government.
Meanwhile, speaking about the alleged desecration of BR Ambedkar’s statue in Ludhiana, Ramdas Athawale said: “It seems to me that some anti-social elements are trying to create division in society. The stature of Dr B.R. Ambedkar is very grand. Insulting his statue will not lessen his respect. These people are taking wrong steps…Insulting Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statue is completely wrong.”
He sought a thorough investigation into the incident and immediate arrest of the accused.
The incident had sparked outrage in the city, which observed a ‘bandh’ from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
