India, Oct. 16 -- This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies, and no permanent friends, only permanent interests." American Congressman William Clay very succinctly sketched an oft-visible peculiarity in politics.

As one of the oldest alliances in Indian politics and touted to be one that was forged on steady friendship and mutual respect - the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party, came to an unceremonious and much publicised end, these words had a timely ring to them. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal recently announced that they were parting ways with the NDA over "anti-farmer, anti-Punjab" bills. He did not hold back any punches while calling the bills "lethal and disastrous" for its biggest voter base - the farm...