SANGRUR: BJP State vice president and two- time legislator Arvind Khanna has joined back Shiromani Akali Dal along with entire team of BJP office bearers, including the district president of Sangrur. He started his political career with SAD, later joined Congress party and then opted for BJP before his home coming.
Welcoming Mr Khanna, SAD president Sukhbir Badal said “the storm which will throw out Delhi parties from Punjab has started today”. He also announced Khanna’s appointment as Halka Incharge of this constituency on the occasion. He said the senior leader had been serving the people of Sangrur for the last two decades and had been instrumental in carrying out various social initiatives under the Umeed Foundation headed by him. “He is among the rare breed of leaders who believe in selfless service and giving back to society”.
Speaking on the occasion, Khanna said he started his political innings with the SAD and described his rejoining as a homecoming. He said people still remembered the unprecedented development done in the State during successive Akali governments. “They want a return to those days”, he said while also stating that he was inspired by the selfless service rendered by Mr Sukhbir Badal during the floods in Punjab last year.
The SAD president also welcomed BJP district president Dharminder Singh Dullat, former Municipal Council presidents Harbans Singh Garcha and Deepak Aggarwal, Daljit Singh Sekhon - Executive member State BJP Committee, Manjula Sharma district president, BJP Mahila Morcha, ex president Truck Union - Gurmeet Singh Kaka and Block presidents - Boota Singh, Narinder Kumar Shally, Navdeep Singh Nippa and Harmel Singh. A number of BJP leaders of Dirba, Sunam, Dhuri and Barnala of BJP and the Congress also joined the SAD along with Mr Khanna.
Badal also appealed to the people to support the SAD which truly represented their aspirations as a regional party. “We are committed to dealing firmly with the gangster culture which has been introduced into Punjab by AAP”. He also lashed out at chief minister Bhagwant Mann for destroying the State by ushering in an era of lawlessness and drug addiction.