CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today hailed the stand taken by AAP MLA H S Phoolka who had said that he would quit the party if it joined hands with the Congress in a direct or indirect manner.
Former minister and Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia said the SAD welcomed Phoolka's statement because the AAP leader had made it clear that he would not agree to any "opportunistic" alliance with the Congress party which was allegedly responsible for perpetrating 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
"It takes guts to stand up to one's principles in such a manner and by doing so Phoolka has shown the mirror to AAP and its opportunistic leaders in Delhi and Punjab who are in the process of negotiating an alliance with the Congress," Majithia alleged.
The Akali leader said it was obvious that the former leader of opposition had come to know about the "parleys" being held by AAP leaders with the Congress for alliance.
"This is the only reason for him to come out with an unequivocal statement that he will quit the AAP once this is finalised," Majithia said in a statement issued here.
Yesterday Phoolka had said, "I shall be the first person to quit the Aam Aadmi Party if and when it joins hands with the Congress (either) in a direct or indirect manner.
" The AAP MLA had made it clear here that any understanding with the Congress party would amount to giving a clean chit to the alleged "perpetrators" of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.