LUDHIANA: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today received a shot in the arm with former cabinet minister Anil Joshi making a comeback into the party as well as joining the SAD’s election campaign in the Ludhiana West assembly by-election.
Welcoming Mr Joshi back into the party, the SAD president said the senior leader was like his younger brother. “We have a bond spanning two decades. It gives me immense happiness that Joshi ji has decided to rejoin the SAD in the interest of Punjab and Punjabiat. We all feel there is a need to bring back the era of peace and communal harmony and will strive for the same”.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Joshi said “it is the need of the hour to strengthen the regional party which alone understands and makes its programmes and policies as per the aspirations of Punjabis”.
He said the SAD had always safeguarded the interests of Punjabis and he was confident that it would continue to reflect the aspirations of each and every segment of society.
He also spoke on the pro- development and pro-poor policies of the erstwhile Parkash Singh Badal government as well as rapid infrastructure build up including expressways and the international airport by S Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Later Mr Badal also inducted former Jathedar Harbhajan Singh Dang’s brother Gurdeep Singh Rana Dang into the party. Rana Dang had contested the last municipal elections as an independent.