AAP blames RSS SAD for the crisis

/0 Comments/in , , /by

 

With its Punjab unit facing a crisis, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday blamed the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and two legislators for trying to split the party.

In a statement here on Tuesday, AAP zone president Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal and leaders Dalbir Singh Dhillon, Ravjot Singh and Gurdit Singh Sekhon said two legislators — Simarjit Singh Bains and Balwinder Singh Bains, who are brothers, were trying to split the Punjab unit of the AAP at the instance of the RSS, SAD and the BJP.

“Some AAP legislators are falling prey to the trap being laid by these anti-Punjab powers,” the middle-rung AAP leaders said in the joint statement.

They said news reports had hinted at a secret meeting between senior AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira and former Akali Minister and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia.

“History shows that the RSS has never been able to digest the respect being given to the Dalit community,” the leaders said in a reference to the appointment of AAP Dalit leader Harpal Singh Cheema as Leader of Opposition (LoP) after the sudden removal of Khaira from the post by the AAP central leadership last week.

They said anti-Punjab powers were trying to split the AAP and finish it politically.

Khaira, who was removed as the LoP last week through a tweet from AAP national leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, remained defiant over his removal and said preparations for a party convention in Bathinda, slated for Thursday, was in full swing.

“By terming our August 2 meet as anti-party activity, Sisodia has vindicated our charge of dictatorial attitude, if we Pbi’ (Punjabis) can’t hold a simple meeting on our soil then how will we safeguard the interests of Pb? The AAP meet at Bathinda will settle the issue once and for all,” a defiant Khaira tweeted on Tuesday.

“I urge all the brave Punjabis to attend our AAP convention at Bathinda on August 2 at Woods Resort, Dabbwali Road to espouse the cause of our state,” Khaira added.

Khaira’s removal led to an internal upheaval among the party’s legislators.

Khaira, who paraded eight legislators in his support here last week, went to Delhi to meet Sisodia and object to his removal as LoP but their demand was rejected by the AAP central leadership.

The AAP had emerged as the main opposition in Punjab in assembly election results in March last year, winning 20 seats in the 117-member assembly.

This was the party’s first outing in the assembly polls and it was able to relegate the formidable Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance, which ruled Punjab for 10 years (2007-2017) to the third position

Punjab unit of the AAP could well be headed for a split

/0 Comments/in , , /by

 

Chandigarh, July 31, 2018: 

With ousted Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira remaining defiant over holding a meet of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders and workers in Bathinda on Thursday, the Punjab unit of the AAP could well be headed for a split.

Senior AAP leader and Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia has already issued a warning to AAP legislators in the state and other leaders to stay away from the AAP convention called by Khaira and his group in Bathinda.

Even though Sisodia and the AAP central leadership is unwilling to say that disciplinary action would be taken against legislators and other leaders attending the Bathinda meet, sources in the party said on Tuesday that strict action could follow.

“By terming our August 2 meet as anti-party activity Sisodia has vindicated our charge of dictatorial attitude, if we Punjabis cannot hold a simple meeting on our soil then how will we safeguard the interests of Punjab?

“The AAP meet at Bathinda will settle the issue for once and all,” a defiant Khaira tweeted on Tuesday.

“I urge all the brave Punjabis to attend our AAP Convention at Bathinda… at Woods Resort Dabbwali road to espouse the cause of our state,” Khaira added.

Khaira was removed as Leader of Opposition (LoP) by the AAP central leadership last week, leading to an internal upheaval within the party’s legislators.

The AAP emerged as the main opposition in Punjab in the March 2017 assembly election, winning 20 seats in the 117-member assembly.

This was the party’s first outing in the assembly polls and it was able to relegate the formidable Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance, which ruled Punjab for 10 years (2007-2017) to the third position.

Khaira, who paraded eight legislators in his support here last week, went to Delhi to meet Sisodia and object to his removal as LoP but their demand was rejected by the AAP central leadership.

AAP legislator Kunwar Sandhu, a former journalist and party spokesman, tweeted after the meeting with Sisodia: “Our @AAPPunjab in-charge, Manish Sisodiaji explained that they wanted a Dalit face as LoP.

“We said that instead of derailing the proactive LoP functioning, we should have a Dalit leader as president of state unit. Besides, we have our capable colleague as deputy leader.”

“Under leadership of Sukhpal Khaira, eight of us MLAs met Manish Sisodiaji, gave him our insight into feelings of people. Five more MLAs joined us.

“We reasoned that since LoP change was unnecessary and process not followed, it should be taken back,” Sandhu said.

The AAP’s Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi, who continues to be under suspension from the party for over two years, on Tuesday demanded autonomy for the AAP Punjab unit from the party’s central leadership.

If the AAP legislators split and form a separate group, the party will lose its position as the main opposition in the state assembly.

In that case, the SAD will emerge as the second largest party with 14 legislators.