Attack on religious preachers disturbing: BJP to SAD

CHANDIGARH: Barely days after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)'s re-elected Rajya Sabha MP Sukhdev Dhindsa hinted at a "friendly split" with alliance partner BJP for mutual gains amid threat from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, Union minister and Hoshiarpur MP Vijay Sampla, warned Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of a "disturbing trend" of attack and disappearance of religious preachers.
"The Gau Samiti chief Shri Krishna Nand Saraswati in Ropar has disappeared while there murder attacks have taken place on Sikh preachers and sect heads. Its a serious concern that is causing fear in people's minds. We need to stop this immediately," Sampla said.
Sampla, a Dalit MP from Hoshiarpur, who was last month made the new state chief by party boss Amit Shah, along with BJP's core group held a meeting with Badal at the chief minister residence on Monday.
An SUV ferrying Patiala-based Sikh preacher Ranjit Dhandriwanle was fired at and his aide Bhupinder Singh Dhakki killed as their vehicle as waylaid on May 17, forcing him to move a plea at Punjab and Haryana high court seeking CBI probe while on April 4, matriarchal head of Namdhari sect was assasinated in Ludhiana.
The BJP MP also made his party's demand before Badal, to announce presidents and vice-presidents of municipal councils, according to the "sharing formula" in the state.
"At least the Akali Dal should follow the formula and give us our due share" said Sampla.
The BJP also took on Badal while warning him to stop poaching of BJP councilors into the SAD.
In last year's elections to corporations and councils in Punjab, BJP had emerged as the largest party ahead of SAD, by claiming 85 seats and 80 seats respectively.
Looking for fortify its voterbase among traders, the BJP also objected to the delay caused by the SAD in issuing notifications on VAT reduction on essential commodities such as black pepper,turmeric among other items.
An assertive posturing by the BJP has caused a flutter among the SAD, which sought to play down the controversy.
SAD chief Sukhbir Badal and BJP president Amit Shah had held back-to-back meetings in February while speculations were rife on an imminent split on the row over cabinet portfolios and a possibility of deputy chief minister post going to BJP.