Regional parties must unite as a second front against BJP in 2024: Sukhbir Badal

Ex-ally of the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, on Sunday, proposed that regional parties must come together to form a national front against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"There is a need for regional forces to get together. Regional forces are more connected to the ground and have better understanding of the people. We have been talking to various parties. Regional parties should come together and form a front before the 2024 general elections. And I am sure before 2024, this front will emerge as very strong force," he said.

Explaining the reason for the severing of SAD's relationship with the BJP, Badal said that farmers' issues are at the core of the ideology of SAD and the party can never compromise on it.

"SAD is a farmers' party, and their issues are core of our ideology. Whatever may happen and whatever cost we may have to pay, we wouldn't let these laws be implemented in Punjab," Badal said. SAD's Harsimrat Kaur quit as Union Minister last September against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre, which triggered mass protests.

Regarding the party's newly formed alliance with Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj Party, Badal confirmed that the alliance of the two parties is permanent. Badal also added that SAD is talking to various regional parties to come on one united, 'second' platform before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. As the Congress is no more a pan-India party, the alliance would be a second front than a third, and the BJP will be the main target, he noted.

Regarding the upcoming Punjab assembly elections, he said, "If the party is voted to power, it will provide government job to a family member of all those farmers who lost their lives during the ongoing protest against the laws." Furthermore, the government shall provide free education to children of the farmers who died in the protests and pension to parents of those who died young, he added. The party is presently focused on bringing in more youth and women candidates for the upcoming polls.

Badal also termed the Pegasus scandal an attack on democracy and demanded interrogation into it. "This entire snooping episode is an attack on the Constitution, democracy and rights of the people. It is completely unethical and a JPC should be formed headed by an opposition MP to investigate it," Badal slammed.