Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) released its manifesto for the upcoming parliamentary election on Saturday, making a ‘panthic’ (Sikh) and ‘pro-Punjab’ pitch, emphasising a democratic and federal structure with political and fiscal autonomy for the State.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal released the manifesto, and gave a twin call for “Panthic principles above politics and Punjab for Punjabis”. He said that on getting people’s mandate, it would introduce a law to ensure that jobs in Punjab would be reserved for Punjabi youth only. The party manifesto also declared that, with the people’s mandate, it shall move to cancel all decisions and settlements on river waters which have been made without Punjab’s concurrence and in violation of the nationally accepted Riparian principle.
The manifesto makes a commitment to renew the fight for the inclusion of Chandigarh and other Punjabi speaking areas left out of the State. Mr. Badal said the party will use its mandate to seek the transfer of Kartarpur Sahib from Pakistan to India through mutual land exchange between the two countries.
