Death of Hindu preacher due to Kejriwal's friendship with radicals: Sukhbir Singh Badal

NEW DELHI: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday alleged that the death of Amit Sharma, a Hindu preacher who was shot dead yesterday in Ludhiana, is a result of the "friendship" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has struck up with "radicals."

Sukhbir made these accusations without naming any specific leaders or candidates.

@ArvindKejriwal – Your friendship with radicals to take on @Akali_Dal_ is destabilizing peace in Punjab. /1

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 15, 2017

Murder of Hindu org leader Amit Sharma is a result of this policy. /2

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 15, 2017

He accused Kejriwal of "instigating" such radicals to take on his party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, ahead of next month's Assembly polls in Punjab.

.@ArvindKejriwal – You are instigating radicals to take on @akali_dal_. /1

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 15, 2017

Why don’t you tell them to take on @INCIndia which attacked Harmandar Sahab with tanks? /2

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 15, 2017

Sukhbir today also alleged that Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress have fielded weak candidates against each other, and said the Delhi Chief minister had reserved his "big guns" to take on the SAD.

Kejriwal, you fielded nonities against @capt_amarinder, Sunil Jakhar &Charanjit Channi but reserved your big guns to take on the @akali_dal_

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) January 15, 2017

The Aam Aadmi Party, the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal will be the three major contenders in the fray when Punjab goes to the polls next month.

Like Sukhbir, Both Kejriwal and Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh have accused their rivals of colluding with each other.

Here's what Amarinder Singh had to say last month when the AAP fielded former journalist Jarnail Singh - whom he called a "weak candidate" - against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Lambi.

Jarnail’s nomination bid from Lambi shows AAP-SAD collusion to ensure Badal’s victory. Reeks of an underhand deal!

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) December 28, 2016

Kejriwal, on his part, tweeted in October the SAD and Congress are "fighting elections together," and that Amarinder Singh is their joint "CM candidate."

The Delhi Chief Minister has asked why the Badals decided to drop cases against the Amarinder, and has gone as far as to allege that Amarinder was using Punjab Revenue minister Bikram Singh Majithia's "drug money" for his campiagn.