Tohra's joining adds insult to AAP's injury
Thursday, 01/09/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=164081&boxid=65567&uid=&dat=2016-09-01
Chandigarh : A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) welcomed former SAD minister Harmel Singh Tohra in its fold, the development has led the party to chaos in the poll-bound state once again. The party’s election manifesto committee head Kanwar Sandhu, who was seen standing along Tohra on Tuesday, was the first person to raise the objection, that too quite strongly.
Expressing his reservations about Harmel’s joining AAP, Sandhu, on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, wrote in the morning on Wednesday: “I wish I had known about Harmel Singh Tohra’s involvement in the unfortunate attack on AAP MP Dr Dharamvir Gandhi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. I would have opposed his entry.” Not enough, Sandhu also went on demanding an unconditional apology from Harmel Tohra for his alleged role in the attack.
Sandhu’s admission goes with the subject-Tohra’s hasty induction: “I wish I had known about Harmail Singh Tohra’s involvement in the unfortunate attack on AAP MP, Dr Dharamvir Gandhi in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. I would have opposed his entry. Now this person must publicly apologise for his role in the attack.” “Besides, he should prove that he is committed to AAP’s strategy before being made a candidate for any polls. Obviously, we need to be more careful in inducting people left and right and broad-base the screening process for the same,” it reads further.
Sandhu’s gesture has created a ruckus in the Aam Aadmi Party that was already wading through tough days for the party volunteers staging protests across the state following the state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur’s removal from the position.
AAP’s suspended MP Dharmvir Gandhi had also posted on his Facebook account: “Yes it is same Harmel Tohra, who instigated Akali goons to attack me, break my nasal bone and later garlanded the culprits, when released on bail. What AAP ‘bhakats’ have to say on this.” His expression of feelings was further boosted with the comment of another sacked AAP leader Jasraj Singh Longia, who had contested MP polls 2014 from Bathinda seat. By the evening on Wednesday, hundreds of people had flooded the social media with their reactions on the issue at Facebook, WhatsApp groups and twitter. Notably, the majority condemned the party’s gesture of inducting Harmel Tohra, his wife Kuldeep Kaur and their son in the AAP. It is pertinent to mention that Kuldeep Kaur is the daughter of former late SAD leader, who had headed the SGPC for more than two decades.
Sandhu admits AAP is in crisis
A former journalist and the AAP’s election manifesto committee head Kanwar Sandhu seems to be fed up with the mess in the party. Though he has not yet indicated his next move, his posts on social media are giving enough food to gossip mongers. “Party is indeed facing a serious crisis and I am besieged with calls and messages asking people like me to do something,” writes Sandhu. He, however, further takes the suggestion of masses, asking: “The party remains the hope of the people of Punjab so to fulfil this hope, what do you think we need to do? I have done my own analysis but I would like to know what you all feel. Let us hear you out.”
From Sandhu’s facebook wall
Gurvinder Pal Singh: “Apologising doesn’t make dead man alive sir. He shouldn’t be in the party in simple words. Please convey this to Mr Kejriwal. I m already double minded to give vote to AAP.”
Miki Singh Ahluwalia: “AAP is a bank now. Any one can open an account by depositing money. That’s a biter truth of your party. Mr Sandhu sir.”
Dharminder Bal: “May I ask what were you doing there if you are opposed to this decision? Please stop politics.”
