If there is an eye for an eye, Punjab politicians believe in having a relative for a relative. Day after SAD brought into party fold its rebel MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura’s nephew, SAD (Taksali) on Thursday retorted with induction of Akali veteran Parkash Singh Badal’s nephew in the newly-formed outfit.

Harsukhinder Singh ‘Bubby’ Badal, along with his supporters, joined the taksalis, and was appointed the party’s youth wing president. “It is a personal loss to the Badal family,” the former SAD minister and SAD (Taksali) founding-member Sewa Singh Sekhwan is how described the development.

Distantly related to former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, Bubby is his nephew and cousin of SAD president Sukhbir Badal. Son of late Surinder Singh Badal, Bubby is a known face, especially in Mohali area, and had served SAD for a long time.

Only a day before, Brahmpura’s nephew Gurinder Singh Tony, his wife and Zila Parishad member Rupinder Kaur, and their supporters joined the Badals’ led Akali Dal in the presence of SAD former minister Bikram Majithia in Tarn Taran.

However, Brahmpura had maintained that tony is just an acquaintance who had worked against him in the previous elections.

A day after, Brahmpura settled the score by inducting Bubby Badal in the party.

Maintaining that Sukhbir Badal was responsible for the sacrilege cases, Bubby Badal said that the Akali Dal failed to stop incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and accused persons were given protection.

“I was hurt and waiting for the right opportunity to step out of SAD (Badal),” he said adding that he supported the cause of Brahmpura who took bold stand against the Badal family.

“Sikhs are annoyed with the Badal family for exonerating Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh,” he said while blaming the Badals for misusing religious institutes for political gains.

Brahmpura welcomed Bubby Badal saying that large number of Akali Dal leaders were ready to join them. “SAD has lost base among the Sikh community and faced humiliating defeat in the last assembly elections. SAD is working under influence of RSS and will lost Lok Sabha poll,” he maintained.

TAKSALIS MEETS CEO DEMANDING ACTION AGAINST SAD CANDIDATE

SAD (Taksali) on Thursday demanded stern action against SAD (Badal) candidate from Khadoor Sahib, Bibi Jagir Kaur, for distributing the illegal liquor in rally held a day before at Dera Sahib village in Khadoor Sahib constituency “against law and order”.

The demand was made when a high level delegation of SAD (Taksali), led by party president and Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, met the state Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju.

Responding, Raju assured the party leaders that suitable action would be taken against the guilty persons.

 STILL HOPEFUL FOR ALLIANCE WITH AAP

SAD (Taksali) president Brahmpura maintained that he was still hopeful of a political alliance with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for May 19 Lok Sabha elections.

The alliance talks between the taksalis and AAP has hit a roadblock with both parties adamant on having Sri Anandpur Sahib seat in their share, from where both the parties hjave announced their candidates. In lieu of that, AAP has now offered Bathinda seat to the taksalis.