Amarinder's 'panthic' agenda no issue in Punjab polls: Badal

Chandigarh, Nov 23 (UNI) Taking a dig at the claim of ruling Congress that Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh overshadowed the Akalis on the 'panthic' (religiuous) agenda, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Parkash Singh Badal today said the 'panthic' agenda was not the issue in the ensuing state assembly polls.

''The poor economic condition prevailing in Punjab is the real issue in these elections,'' Mr Badal said while talking to reporters here after the SAD's political affairs committee meeting.

The ruling Congress has been portraying Capt Singh as ''the panthic leader of Punjab'' in its campaign during the recent 'Vikas Yatra' in the Malwa region, among other functions.

Outrightly rejecting Capt Singh as a 'panthic' leader, Mr Badal commented that the man with the five vices could not be a 'panthic' person.

''A person with no control over kaam, krodh lobh, moh, ahankar (desire, anger, greed, attachment and ego) cannot be a religious man,'' Mr Badal said.

When asked to comment on differences between Capt Singh and senior Congress leader Jagmeet Singh Brar in the context of challenging each other to contest against Mr Badal from Lambi, the SAD president declined to comment.

Mr Badal reiterated that there were no differences between the SAD and the BJP on the seat sharing issue. ''We (SAD and BJP) will soon announce the candidates,'' he said.

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