Lok Sabha polls: SAD (Kashmir) extends support to PDP

The Shiromani Akali Dal (Kashmir) today extended support to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party for Lok Sabha elections in the Valley.

The members of the Akali Dal, led by its chief Janak Singh Sodhi who is also president of the SGPC, Baramulla, announced their support to the Peoples Democratic Party at a function here, the PDP said in a statement.

Welcoming their support, PDP patron Mufti Mohamamd Sayeed said his party would always safeguard the interest of minorities and work for their dignified and prosperous life.
The party would identify areas of special interests for the Sikh community and work for protecting its identity, he said.

"During its brief tenure, the PDP had given proper political representation to the community by sending one of its members to the Rajya Sabha and inducting another into the Council of Ministers.

"By contrast, the ruling National Conference (NC) which had exploited all communities of the state restricted itself to raising slogans and arranging photo opportunities and did nothing for their welfare," Sayeed said.

Sodhi, who had been associated with the NC for a long time, said the community was "thoroughly disillusioned" with the party.

"The Akali Dal is inspired by the honest and sincere leadership of Sayeed and the agenda for peace and development that the party has presented," he said.