BJP condemns attack by Akali leaders

Fissures appeared in the ruling coalition in Punjab, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday expressing unhappiness over the attitude of alliance partner Akali Dal and demanding stern action against Akali leaders accused of attacking and insulting BJP members.

"We condemn the incident of Akali legislators abusing one of our senior-most leaders. In the past also Akali workers had attacked our MLA and party workers at Tarn Taran and at Bathinda. Our workers were brutally attacked by the them," Rajinder Bhandari, state BJP president, told reporters in Chandigarh.

He added, "Despite repeated assurances no concrete action has been taken against the culprits so far."

The BJP held a core committee meeting, held on Friday, in the wake of Wednesday's incident in which Akali Dal legislator Sarabjit Singh Makkar reportedly used abusive language at BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia.

The meeting went on for nearly four-and-a-half hours.

To show their unhappiness over the development, the BJP had boycotted the state cabinet meeting on Thursday.

Bhandari said that BJP party workers are feeling isolated and disillusioned due to the incidents.

"We have apprised our senior leaders about these circumstances. The future strategy of the party would be decided only after discussions with the party high command," Bhandari said.