PM Modi's Subtle Jibe at Akali Dal: 'Party driven by self-interest'; Watch Video
Babushahi Bureau
Jalandhar (Punjab), July 17, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday broadened his political attack during his address in Jalandhar, taking aim not only at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) but also at the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the Congress. In a pointed remark aimed at the BJP's former ally, Modi said the Shiromani Akali Dal had become "consumed by its own self-interests" and was no longer focused on Punjab's welfare.
Addressing a public gathering, the Prime Minister alleged that the Akali Dal had lost sight of the state's interests and was preoccupied with its own political agenda.
"The Shiromani Akali Dal is now trapped in the web of its own self-interests," Modi said, adding that both the Akali Dal and the Congress had failed to prioritise the concerns of Punjab's people, farmers, and youth.
Pitching the BJP as the alternative, Modi reiterated his call for a "double-engine government", asserting that Punjab could witness faster development only when the same party governs both the Centre and the state.
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He said a BJP government in Punjab, working in tandem with the Centre, would accelerate infrastructure development, improve governance, and help restore the state's prosperity.