Sukhbir Singh Badal – President, Akali Dal:

Coercive tactics to secure Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s entry into BJP are a direct attack on Khalsa Panth, Sikh religious institutions & Akali Dal.

This is BJP’s revenge against us for standing by principles, breaking alliance with them & quitting the cabinet to stand by farmers.

Shiromani Akali Dal will not buckle under repression. Mughals tried it, the British tried it & Congress rulers like Indira tried it. Let BJP also try it. They will soon find out what they are up against.

We are very proud we stood by farmers. We don’t care what consequences will follow for standing up for principles. We are ready for repression, oppression and conspiracies, and will defeat them.

Sirsa’s joining BJP will not create even a minor ripple in Punjab. Everyone knows he has no roots here. More likely, he will face anger and hostility from the Khalsa Panth.