SAD not to back Sikh PM, to vote against UPA

NOT FOR MANMOHAN: SAD supremo Prakash Singh Badal clarified that the party was one on voting against the UPA.

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New Delhi: After a lot of dithering, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has decided to vote against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government during the Vote of Confidence in the Lok Sabha on July 22.

The party's eight Members of Parliament will vote with its ally - the Bharatiya Janata Party.

However, there is a section within the party, which believes the party should not ditch Manmohan Singh, the country's first and only Sikh Prime Minister, in his hour of crisis.

SAD chief and Punjab Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal, on the other hand said, "UPA had not taken the Akalis into confidence on the Indo-US nuclear deal. We will not support UPA,"

"If this is the case (the issue of Sikh Prime Minister), then tomorrow all Hindus, Christians and Muslims will start voting for the man of their community and religion. The party had always kept interests of the Sikhs uppermost in its mind," Badal said.

He also clarified that the party was one on voting against the UPA.

"There is no confusion. The party is not divided on the issue. Instead of adopting a conservative approach, we should have a broad thinking on the matter," he said.