NRI ACTIVISTS BACK KHAIRA, HIT OUT AT KEJRIWAL

CHANDIGARH: Over 100 Punjabi non-resident Indians (NRIs), formerly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), have slammed its decision to suspend dissident legislators Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu from the party.

In an open letter to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, these NRIs from USA, Canada, New Zealand, Italy, Spain, Germany and some other countries accused the party leadership of suspending Khaira and Sandhu from the party on “baseless” allegations. The AAP suspended the two leaders for “antiparty activities and continuously speaking out against top leaders of the party”.

The NRIs cited suspension of MPs Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Khalsa, expulsion of Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Kejriwal’s apology tendered to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a defamation case, Khaira’s removal from the post of leader of opposition and act of blaming Punjab for pollution in Delhi as instances that have left them disappointed.

“The AAP has been playing with emotions of the people,” they said. Earlier, they had backed Khaira after his removal as the leader of opposition in July this year. Two months ago, the AAP had dissolved all its organisational units outside the country, saying that the decision was taken in consultation with the political affairs committee (PAC) on the basis of feedback from 60,000 volunteers.

IN AN OPEN LETTER TO KEJRIWAL, NRIS TERM ACCUSATIONS AGAINST KHAIRA AND SANDHU ‘BASELESS’