Venue changed, Khaira takes stock of preparations

BATHINDA: Unfazed over the AAP central leadership declaring their August 2 convention here as anti-party, disgruntled party MLAs opposing the removal of Sukhpal Singh Khaira as leader of opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday went ahead with the preparations for the event in their respective assembly segments.

Reacting to senior party leader Manish Sisodia’s remark dubbing the meet as ‘anti-party’, Khaira tweeted, “By terming our 2nd Aug meet as anti party activity, Mr Sisodia has vindicated our charge of dictatorial attitude, if we Pbi’ (Punjabis) can’t hold a simple meeting on our own soil then how will we safeguard the interests of Pb (Punjab)? The AAP meet at Bathinda will settle the issue for once and all.”

Khaira held meetings with party volunteers in Bathinda (urban) assembly segment.

The venue of the convention has also been changed from a private resort to the sports stadium of Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant on the Bathinda-Goniana road. Khaira visited the venue on Tuesday. He said, “Going by the response we are getting, party workers in large numbers will attend the meet, so the venue has been changed to accommodate all participants.”

He reiterated that the convention will seek autonomy for the party’s Punjab unit so that it can take its own decisions. Maur MLA Jagdev Singh Kamalu said meetings are being held in the e assembly segment to mobilise party volunteers for the meet.

Jaitu MLA Baldev Singh, who also held meetings for the convention, said, “Party workers from other assembly segments in which we lost assembly polls are calling up and expressing consent to attend the meet.”

Bhaduar MLA Pirmal Singh also said party workers are being mobilised for the convention.