SAD not to contest Himachal Pradesh polls

Shiromani Akali Dal Saturday said it will not contest next month`s Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and will campaign for its ally BJP in the state.

Hoshiarpur: Shiromani Akali Dal on Saturday said it will not contest next month`s Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh and will campaign for its ally BJP in the state.

"We will support the BJP`s candidates (in Himachal Pradesh) and campaign for them," Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal told reporters at Giani Kartar Singh Memorial Government college, Tanda, 32 km from here. Replying to a question regarding levelling of corruption charges on various leaders of ruling and opposition parties by activist Arvind Kejriwal, Badal said all political leaders should work unitedly for the development of the country. Refuting the charge of Congress leaders regarding shielding key accused involved in abduction of a minor girl in Faridkot, Badal said 90 per cent of the accused involved in the case have already been arrested. Commenting on the demand of Balramji Dass Tandon, a senior BJP leader, regarding transfer of the police officials who had allegedly supported the criminals in the Shruti abduction case, chief minister said transfer of police officials in state had recently been done and there was no question to transfer any of the policemen now. Replying to another question regarding shifting of some of the cotton based industry of Punjab to Madhya Pradesh and Haryana states on account of high taxes, he claimed that none of the cotton based industry had shifted to other state. PTI