SAD accuses Phoolka of adopting double standards

Thursday, 13/07/2017

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Chandigarh : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday asked Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader H S Phoolka to set the record straight and tell Punjabis why his party had supported the Congress’ Presidential candidate under his stewardship in Punjab even though he stepped down from the post of Leader of Opposition on the premise of fighting cases of Congress excesses committed in 1984 in Delhi.

Stating this on Wednesday, SAD leader Virsa Singh Valtoha asked Phoolka to clearly state on which side of the fence he was. “If you are with the genocide victims of 1984, there is no way you could support the candidature of former Speaker Meira Kumar for the post of President. Meira Kumar represents the same Congress which attacked the Golden Temple with tanks and mortar shells. She represents the same party which planned and executed a mass genocide against Sikhs in Delhi and other parts of the country in the aftermath of the assassination of Indira Gandhi. More so, this support was extended to the Congress candidate when you were heading the AAP state unit in Punjab and also leader of the opposition.”

Asking Phoolka what locus standi he had in claiming he had resigned as Leader of Opposition to contest the 1984 genocide cases when he had not even registered his protest against the candidature of Meira Kumar, the Akali leader said this proved that there was more to the issue than what met the eye. “It is clear that you have resigned as leader of opposition due to ulterior motives. It is clear that you want to shift back to Delhi and restart your thriving law practice. You are only using the 1984 genocide cases as an excuse to achieve this end,” he added.

Stating that the Akali Dal did not have any objection to Phoolka making money, Valtoha said the AAP leader was however answerable to his constituents as well as the people of Punjab. “He must tell Punjabis why he is running back to Delhi to pursue his law career after winning the confidence of the people and getting elected as a legislator from Dakha. He has also chosen to leave the AAP party cadre in the lurch? Is this his commitment to Punjab and its people? Why is he betraying them in such a manner?” the Akali leader asked.

Phoolka quit as he didn’t get support from AAP MLAs: Cong

Chandigarh : Congress leader and Punjab Cabinet minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday said Opposition leader H S Phoolka resigned from his post because he had failed to get support of his party MLAs in the House during the budget session.

He said Phoolka has claimed the 1984 cases as a reason for his resignation just to save his face besides gaining applause from the riot victims by touching their sentiments.

Channi said this development was quite apparent during the Vidhan Sabha session when Phoolka walked out alone from the House three times whereas his party MLAs decided to stay put.

He said everybody in the House witnessed humiliation Phoolka faced repeatedly at the hands of his partymen.

Channi said Phoolka was feeling rejected in his own party and the AAP MLAs were also not happy with his performance as a leader of the Opposition and they were on heels to replace Phoolka.

In view of this, Phoolka himself chose the safe exit path using the sentiments of 1984 victims, he added.