BJP youth wing chief takes on SAD over CLU

CHANDIGARH: Growing dissent over the change of land use (CLU) policy between BJP and alliance partner Shiromani AKali Dal escalated after BJP's Punjab youth wing president Mohit Gupta, on Friday, asked his party's coalition partner to stop the blame game.
"Instead of indulging in a tug-of-war with the BJP, they should bring new schemes for the welfare of Punjab and also take advantage of the NDA government," Gupta said.A controversy had erupted on Saturday after local bodies minister and BJP's Amritsar North MLA Anil Joshi announced that his department has decided to waive off CLU charges on hotels and hospitals.
This triggered a war of words between the two allies after Punjab deputy CM Sukhbir Badal's office issued a government note, saying he had delegated this power to the local bodies department and the decision was not taken by Joshi.
Gupta also warned the SAD against making any policy decision a "credit war". "The overall credit will, in any case, go to the Punjab government which is a coalition of Akali-BJP," he said.
It looks like Gupta's statement will fuel tension between the coalition partners. His statement also assumes significance as he represents Badal junior's wife Harsirmat Kaur's constituency Bathinda.