Entry tax decision on sugar taken jointly by BJP-SAD: Badal

A day after its alliance partner BJP expressed dissatisfaction over SAD not taking it into confidence before imposing an entry tax on sugar, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asserted that each and every decision to govern the State was taken collectively.

Putting the ball back into the BJP’s court, the 87-year-old five-time Chief Minister said: “BJP was part and parcel of the Cabinet, which took the decision to levy entry tax on sugar in the State.”

Asserting that the two alliance partners had “complete understanding” on all issues, he said: “We take decisions pertaining to the State collectively.”

The Chief Minister further said that the alliance was everlasting and firm as both the alliance partners have “complete faith and confidence in each other“.

“The ministers of SAD-BJP alliance collectively take decisions in the Cabinet which are then implemented in Punjab for the welfare of the people and prosperity of the State,” Mr. Badal said on the sidelines of the second day of his Sangat Darshan programme at Sham Kheda here.

The Punjab unit of BJP had on Monday slammed ruling alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal for imposing an entry tax on sugar procured from other States, claiming that it had not been “taken into confidence” about the move. - PTI