The senior Akali Dal leader equated the two leaders yesterday when mediapersons questioned him on his statement that the BJP was no different from the Congress in the context of resolving the State's long-pending issues.

His statement seems to have come as a shock to BJP leaders, as apprehensions are being expressed about the very continuation of the alliance.

``There is no threat to the alliance in view of the statement of the SGPC chief'', insisted Local Bodies Minister and senior BJP leader Balramji Dass Tandon.

BJP sources pointed out Tohra was not justified in equating Vajpayee with Indira Gandhi on issues concerning Punjab. The BJP high command was said to have made it very clear to the alliance partners that inter-state issues would not be taken up.

Tohra had criticised Vajpayee and otherBJP leaders' attitude on issues including the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab and the river water dispute.

However, sources close to Tohra maintain he did not get a positive response to issues which concerned only the Sikhs, with Vajpayee, a few days back. One of these was amending the Motor Vehicles Act to exempt Sikh women from wearing helmets while riding two-wheelers.

The BJP leaders say Indira Gandhi was responsible for keeping Chandigarh out of Punjab during the State's re-organisation in 1966, and the apportionment of Punjab river waters against the State's interests.

``The BJP came to the rescue of the Sikhs in Delhi during the November 1984 violence, and the party had to pay heavily for it in the December Lok Sabha elections. The alliance with the Akali Dal is more than political,'' the sources said.

Tohra has also opposed the BJP demand for a ban on the People's Commission set up to probe human rights violations in the State during militancy.