Punjab’s chief minister Parkash Singh Badal believes the interests of his party, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal, must be served before any individual or familial considerations.
Breaking his silence on the crisis within the party and his own family following the unceremonious sacking of his nephew and state finance minister Manpreet Badal, the chief minister categorically declared, “When it comes to Akali Dal, then we are not concerned about brother, son or nephew, it is only the interests of party that matter.”
Referring to the former finance minister publicly opposing the stated party position on subsidies, Mr Badal said, “He gave some irresponsible statements in the press. He did not want to listen to anyone.”
But also evidently hurting from what he sees as a betrayal by his own kin, the chief minister recalled, “I always cared for Manpreet. Recently, when he fell ill with dengue, I cancelled important meetings to go and see him.” He added that his relations with his younger brother (Manpreet’s father) Gurdas Badal, were unchanged and as cordial as before.