Launching a frontal attack on Tohra, Badal said both Tohra and Gandhi have maintained silence on the `war-like situation' in Kargil.In a statement, Badal said that the silence of Tohra and Sonia Gandhi alike on the Kargil conflict, his disinformation campaign against Sharad Pawar and his latest view that Sonia's nationality is a non-issue are all aimed at indirectly helping Congress and thus sabotage the poll prospects of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The statement says the Akali Dal was the first party in the country to voice strong objection to projection of a foreign national as prime minister. `A person who can neither understand any Indian language, nor read its alphabets can hardly be expected to comprehend ourpeople's legitimate needs, fears, aspirations and emotions,' Badal added.

Meanwhile, in a chat with media persons in Shimla, Badal claimed that the split in the Akali Dal faction would not have any bearing on results of the coming Lok Sabha elections.He said the results would show how credible was the breakaway Akali Dal faction led by Tohra, among the people.

Anyone who had broken away from the Akali Dal mainstream had neither flourished nor prospered.Badal said that the SAD would contest the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab.

he CM was in Shimla to attend a function organised in connection with the tercentenary of the Khalsa Panth at the historic Ridge maidan.

When asked about Tohra's reported statement that foreign origin of congress president Sonia Gandhi would be a non-issue, Badal asserted that it would definitely be an issue in the Lok Sabha elections.Addressing a gathering, Badal said that there was a time when `Sikhs were being looked upon and treatedas extremists' because of wrong policies pursued by them.

He said that a lot was being said about secularism, but secularism in true spirit was preached by the Khalsa Panth. He said the foundation stone of Harminder Sahib was laid by a Muslim. Guru Tegh Bahadur laid down his life for protection of Hindus which was also a glorious example of Sikh secularism, he added.

The CM said that the Heritage complex, to be built at Anandpur Sahib would house the entire history of the Sikhs and was being designed by a well known architect.Badal announced that the SGPC would give Rs 25 lakh for the construction of a Sikh public school at Shimla.