Khaira, Dr Gandhi warn of agitation if perpetrators not jailed

PATIALA: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel leaders Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Dharamvira Gandhi on Sunday said they will launch an agitation if the Congress government failed to put the perpetrators of sacrilege incidents in Punjab behind the bars within 40 days.

Speaking during the Punjab Ekta Convention at the new grain market in Patiala, Khaira, the sacked leader of opposition, and Patiala MP Gandhi, suspended from the party membership, demanded complete autonomy for the Punjab AAP unit so that volunteers could take political decisions concerning the state.

Gandhi said the arrogance of some leaders has cost the party dear in Punjab.

“I give an unsolicited advice to Kejriwal and his associates that if they want to connect with the Punjabis, they have to return to basic principles upon which party was formed and also give autonomy to the Punjab leadership to decide the state-level issues,” he said.

Gandhi said he will join Khaira who is taking up issues concerning Punjab. He also lauded the efforts of Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Sidhu over the Kartarpur corridor issue, adding that it is the desire of not only Sikhs but all Punjabis to visit the shrine in Pakistan.

Khaira said since he is fighting for Punjab, more support is pouring in. On the Justice Ranjit Singh panel report on sacrilege and police firing, Khaira said that Badals are directly responsible for sacrilege incidents.