Denied ticket from SAD, Tohra family joins Aam Aadmi Party

Wednesday, 31/08/2016

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Chandigarh : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that is wading through a tough in Punjab for rebels emerging quite actively on Tuesday received a shot in the arm after the family members of former SAD leader late Gurcharan Singh Tohra, who led the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) for over two decades, joined the party after snapping all ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal.

The members who were welcomed by the AAP leadership in the presence of media persons were Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep Kaur, her husband Harmel Singh and their son Harinderpal Singh. They were also accompanied by few of their supporters who all joined the AAP “unconditionally”.

The AAP’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh and senior leaders Bhagwant Mann, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi, Himmat Singh Shergill and Kanwar Sandhu claimed that Tohra family’s entry would strengthen the party.

While introducing himself, Harmel informed that he served Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) for 25 years and was also a former minister. About his loyalty switching, Harmel claimed that he was inspired by the policies and programmes of the AAP, and mentioned that having observed each and every step of the AAP, he could reach a conclusion that the party would provide neat and clean governance in Punjab so he decided to join the party.

Explaining his grouse with the Akali Dal, Harmel said that the party had decided to give the ticket from Patiala (rural) to a person who was not even a primary member of the party. He also aired his anguishes against the SAD president for “unofficially” helping an independent candidate, who is the son of a cop, in previous elections with a motive to make him face defeat.

Not mincing words, Harmel also claimed that he was upset after the SAD cut his wife Kuldeep Kaur’s ticket from Patiala rural seat, where the SAD president has reportedly handpicked Youth Akali Dal leader Satbir Singh Khatra.

Questioned about his aspiration from AAP for the ticket, Harmel said: “We are coming unconditional but if the party finds me capable it will automatically decide the same.”

On the occasion, Tohra’s daughter Kuldeep Kaur also posed faith in the AAP’s policies.

Terming Blue Cards as beggars’ cards, Bhagwant courts fresh controversy

Chandigarh : AAP’s Punjab Campaign Committee chairman and MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann, who has remained in the news in the past as well for his unconfirmed liking for liquor and some controversial statements, courted yet another controversy on Tuesday.

An apparently over-enthusiased leader of the AAP, while interacting with media persons on the sidelines of the Tohra family’s joining here, went on comparing the Blue Card holders with beggars, though indirectly.

Undoubtedly, he was quick to clarify his statement on being pointed out by media but it was shocking for even his own partymen accompanying him on the occasion when he said: “The way state government is distributing the utensils and Atta-Dal to blue card holders it makes me feel that such cards are the “Beggars’ Cards.”

As the media persons objected to his comment while reminding him that he was terming the underprivileged people, who are the beneficiaries of the state’s pro-people scheme, as the beggars, Mann said: “Please don’t take me otherwise. I want to say that the government should provide them with jobs so that they may earn their livelihood rather than looking upto the state for Atta-Dal and utensils as no one in Punjab likes to be treated as a beggar for the basic needs.”

Interestingly, after realising his gaffe, Mann opted not to take the media queries and hurriedly left the conference hall in his SUV. He was heard denying taking questions of TV channels with a mention: “I know what you will ask so better let me leave now.”

On the other hand, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) was quick to grab the opportunity to score on the rival.

SAD General Secretary and spokesperson Harcharan Singh Bains, in a statement, expressed shock and disbelief over the statement of the AAP leader Bhagwant Mann. While explaining the things in his own way, Bains said that the government’s help and facilities to the poor and Dalits were reducing them to the status of beggars. “This statement, coming on the heels of Arvind Kejriwal’s opposition to the reservation for Dalits, SC, STs and backward classes shows that AAP is stricken by high caste cancer,” said the SAD spokesman.

Speaking further, he said: “This man is drunk on high caste arrogance and desperately needs to be sent to some rehabilitation centre for cure of casteist intoxication. He doesn’t realise that it is the duty of every government to stand by every needy and poor person, especially those who are historically disadvantaged.”

“The government is a trustee of people’s money for the people. People don’t become beggars by receiving help and facilities out of their own money. We are shocked at the mindset of the AAP high-ups,” said Bains.

He declared that all pro-poor policies of the government would not only continue but would even be enhanced according to requirement despite AAP’s opposition to it. “We are not going to be deterred by someone intoxicated with high caste attitude of looking down upon those who need and deserve help,” he announced.

AAP’s increasing woes: Six of 13 zonal heads stand for Chhotepur

Chandigarh : In fresh troubles for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), six of its zonal coordinators in Punjab passed a resolution demanding reinstatement of Sucha Singh Chhotepur, even as its disciplinary committee member Narinder Singh Walia on Tuesday raised questions over ticket distribution. AAP’s six parliamentary zonal coordinators passed a resolution yesterday in support of Chhotepur. The party has 13 zonal coordinators in the state.

The six in their resolution demanded Chhotepur be reinstated and others, including Sanjay Singh, Durgesh Pathak, and zonal observers, who had come from Delhi, be called back. They also demanded that all 33 tickets distributed so far be reviewed.

The zonal coordinators, who have raised the voice, are Narinderpal Sharma Bhagta (Bathinda), Gurinder Bajwa (Amritsar), H S Cheema (Jalandhar), Amandeep Singh (Gurdaspur), Iqbal Singh (Khadoor Sahib) and Jasbir Dhaliwal (Anandpur Sahib).

Walia alleged those who “did nothing” for the party were given preference in the ticket distribution rather than those who toiled for it.

“Leaders from Punjab should be given due weightage in the party and outsiders from Delhi should be asked not to meddle into the affairs of party in Punjab,” he said.

AAP, which had won four of 13 Lok Sabha seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, had already suspended two of the four MPs. Those suspended are Dharamvira Gandhi (Patiala) and Harinder Singh Khalsa (Fatehgarh Sahib).

Randhawa gets AAP Punjab registered

Not only the Chhotepur issue, in Amritsar a rebel group of AAP led by Manjit Singh Randhawa, who was earlier member of the Political Review Committee of AAP, had also announced they had rejected all the candidates announced so far.

Randhawa had also said he had registered a political party called ‘AAP Punjab’. Walia on Tuesday also claimed he was now member of ‘AAP Punjab’.

On the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party’s Punjab political affairs in-charge Sanjay Singh during a press meet replied to reporters, “Chhotepur is a member of the party. He should act like a disciplined soldier...speaking against party by anyone is improper.”

Meanwhile, Chhotepur claimed he had been getting massive support from the volunteers and even people from abroad. Asked when he will resign from the party, Chhotepur said, “There is no need for that as things have gone too far now”.

ready for foreign funding probe: Sanjay

Chandigarh: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday rubbished the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal’s allegations about its foreign funding, saying the party was open to a probe.

“We (AAP) urge Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) and Punjab’s Deputy CM and Home Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal to get the issue of funding to AAP probed by any agency,” said AAP’s political affairs in-charge for Punjab Sanjay Singh.

“If anything is found against AAP on the funding issue, action must be taken against us, but if nothing is found then Sukhbir should resign,” he said, adding, “He appears to be more as a comedy minister then a home minister. He gives baseless statements,” Sanjay said.

Sukhbir had recently requested Rajnath to initiate a probe into the funding of AAP allegedly by “extremist elements abroad” which aims to destabilise the state ahead of assembly elections next year. “A thorough investigation into the money trail would unravel and expose those trying to disturb the hard won peace of Punjab through incidents of sacrilege and violence,” Sukhbir had claimed.

Rejecting his claims, Sanjay said AAP is a secular party and “respects all religions”, with also denying the allegations of AAP showing anti-Sikh face through its political tricks. Going ahead, he termed Kejriwal as the most secular politician of the country.

Carrying on his tussle with Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia, Sanjay Singh again levelled the drugs charges on him.

He rejected claims that “division” is taking place in AAP in Punjab, saying “party is united”.

Sanjay said the party had decided not to make any comment on AAP’s former Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur till the two-member probe panel submit its report on allegations of bribe against the party leader.