Talwandi scratches Akalis' old demand for state autonomy

Chandigarh, Oct 16 (UNI) Notwithstanding the Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) prolonged silence over its old demand for ''state autonomy'' to Punjab, SAD veteran Jagdev Singh Talwandi today said the state's autonomy should now be the party's goal and its ally BJP should positively respond to it.

Addressing the SAD's massive rally in the presence of the BJP leadership on the dais, Mr Talwandi stated that the SAD leadership had been holding a complete silence over its age-old demand for the ''state autonomy'' to Punjab even during the BJP-led NDA regime at the Centre.

''We keep on gaining and losing political powers both at the Centre and in the state but it is of no use if we (SAD) remain silent on our demand for autonomy to the state,'' Mr Talwandi said, which left the Akali and BJP leadership stunned on the stage.

He stated that the grant of state autonomy to Punjab by the Centre could help resolve several problems being faced by the peoole of the state.

As soon as Mr Talwandi raised this issue, SAD general secretary Sukhbir Singh Badal approached him from behind, escorted the Akali veteran back to his seat.

However, none of the Akali leaders, including SAD president Parkash Singh Badal responded to the issue raised by Mr Talwandi in their respective speeches in which they lambasted the ruling Congress and sought the mandate for the Akali-BJP combine in the coming assembly polls.

UNI PS PK RN1912