WE ARE NOT KEJRI’S SLAVES, SAYS KHAIRA
Terming his sacking as leader of opposition (LoP) in the Punjab assembly as undemocratic, AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira lashed out the party’s central leadership. Khaira said he was not for designation, but the manner of his removal from the post was humiliating. “We respect Kejriwal, but it does not mean that we are his slaves,” he said while addressing AAP workers in Barnala.
BARNALA :Terming his sacking as leader of opposition (LoP) in the Punjab assembly as arbitrary and undemocratic, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Sunday said he respected his party supremo Arvind Kejriwal but that does not mean others are his slaves.
The Bholath MLA, who was in Barnala on Sunday to garner support of party workers for his convention at Bathinda on August 2, accused the party’s central leadership of introducing what he termed as a “button culture” as a new form of democracy.
Khaira said this in an ostensible pointer to a tweet by AAP Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia announcing the former’s removal as LoP. He claimed that the August 2 convention is to strengthen the party, not for revolt. He was accompanied by party MLAs Pirmal Singh (Bhadaur), Nazar Singh Mansahia (Mansa), Jagdev Singh Kamalu (Maur) and AAP district president Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon. He claimed that out of 20 AAP MLAs in Punjab, nine were with him to support his cause.
“Even if a Class 4 employee is to be removed from any post, he is served with a 15-days notice. But in my case, our central leadership took it to Twitter to axe me in a hurried manner. Neither they pointed out at any shortcoming in my working nor did they call a meeting of MLAs,” said Khaira.
“All parties ganged up against me but when our own people become part of the conspiracy, it hurts,” he said. On AAP MLAs Gurmeet Singh Hayer (Barnala) and Kulwant Singh Pandori (Mehal Kalan) being conspicuous by their absence, Khaira said, “If they are for completing their tenure and securing pension, it is okay to keep silent.”