Amid reports of rift between the Shiromani Akali Dal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Friday said the alliance in the state is "firm and everlasting"."The SAD-BJP alliance is everlasting and firm. It has always stood the test of time and both the parties should not be seen as different from each other," Badal told reporters Friday in Sangrur district, 150 km from here."The relationship between both the alliance partners is very strong, impeccable and cordial because it has been time and again cemented with mutual affection and understanding," Badal said.
The Akali Dal and the BJP have been running an alliance government in Punjab since 2007.He said the formation of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre as a "silver lining" for Punjab as it will give impetus to the overall development of the state.The chief minister said the Akali Dal-BJP alliance would get absolute majority in the ensuing polls for the Delhi assembly.He blamed the previous Congress government at the Centre for discriminating against Punjab. He said the Congress leaders were now trying to portray all Punjabis as drug addicts.