Manpreet rules out returning to Akali fold

Muktsar, Jan 14 (PTI) Sacked Punjab Finance ministerManpreet Singh Badal today ruled out returning to the rulingShiromani Akali Dal and claimed that his fight was to have thestate freed from the burden of debt.

Addressing a rally here on the occasion of Maghi mela,the former SAD leader said, "There is no question of myre-joining the Akali Dal."

Refuting the charge of Chief Minister Parkash SinghBadal and his son and deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir SinghBadal that he had first taken subsidies and was now opposingthem, Manpreet said, "I had never been in favour of subsidiesand when I dared oppose them the entire Akali Dal went againstme."

"I wanted to make Punjab free from debt," he said addingthat people were with him as he was in favour of betterment ofthe state.

He said the second phase of his ''Punjab Jago Yatra''will commence from January 24 from Anandpur Sahib.

After the culmination of second phase of his yatra hewould announce his next course of action, he said.

On the occasion, Punjab''s former Deputy Speaker BirDevinder Singh, who had extended support to Manpreet,criticised the working of the Badals alleging that the Badalfamily had made the state its personal property.