Amarinder ready to take SAD head-on

Patiala, May 25 (UNI) Former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh today said he was ready to take Shiromani Akali Dal head-on as he was a ''soldier'' of the Congress.

Regarding his future course of action in the party, he said ''It depends purely on the high command and will be decided by Sonia Gandhi herself after settling the dust of the Karnataka assembly results''.

Reacting to the Congress' defeat in Amritsar (South) byelections, he said it was very painful moment for the party.

He alleged that the ruling coaltion used terror tactics to influence the government employees to clinch victory in the Amritsar bypolls.

''It was due to excesses made by ruling Shiromani Akali Dal during the elections we have lost both PRI elections and the byelection,'' he added.

UNI XC PS RC US1720