Sukhbir Singh Badal – President, Akali Dal:

Shiromani Akali Dal has accepted the appeal of Ms Droupadi Murmu for support in the forthcoming presidential poll as she symbolizes the cause of minorities, tribals, the exploited and backward classes as well as the dignity of women.

She has emerged as a symbol of the poor.

We continue to have political differences with the BJP be it on the farm laws earlier or the issue of release of the Sikh detenues presently, but we cannot support a candidate propped up by the Congress party which attacked Sri Darbar Sahib & massacred thousands of Sikhs in 1984.

Shiromani Akali Dal will continue to espouse and strive to get all issues of Sikhs & Punjab resolved including securing the release of Bandi Singhs languishing in jails after completion of their sentences, handing over Chandigarh to Punjab & ensuring the status of Panjab University is not changed.