Seeking ‘alliance’, Kejriwal meets Nandgarh in Bathinda

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 26

Former Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh, who is also the patron of the newly formed Akhand Akali Dal, has turned down the offer of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for an alliance.

Kejriwal today paid a “surprise” visit to Nandgarh at his residence here. He reached the city at 11 am along with AAP MP Bhagwant Maan and headed to Nandgarh’s house where he held a closed-door meeting with the former jathedar for about an hour. Sources said Kejriwal tried to persuade Nandgarh to form an alliance with AAP.

“I have said no to Kejriwal as far as the poll alliance is concerned. He had come to me for seeking my blessings. I told him that my blessings are with him and his party, but we cannot form a poll alliance with him or his party. Our party will be going solo,” said Nandgarh, while talking to The Tribune. “I told him that if AAP comes to power, they should serve the Sikh Panth by punishing those responsible for the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and the ones who killed innocent Sikhs at Behbal Kalan,” he said.