Kejriwal rules out any poll pact with Congress
Coldshoulders Khaira, other AAP rebels at bhog of party MLA’s father
SANGRUR/BARNALA : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday ruled out any alliance with the Congress, with the talks of a ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand coalition) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls doing rounds.
On the sidelines of a meeting of party MLAs in Sunam, the AAP leader launched a scathing attack on Congress and alliance partners SAD) and BJP, saying these parties have looted the country. This was Kejriwal’s maiden visit to Punjab after tendering an apology to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
SANGRUR/BARNALA : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday ruled out any alliance with the Congress, with the talks of a ‘mahagathbandhan’ (grand coalition) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls doing rounds.
On the sidelines of a meeting of party MLAs in Sunam, the AAP leader launched a scathing attack at the ruling Congress and alliance partners Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, saying these parties have looted the country. This was Kejriwal’s maiden visit to Punjab after tendering an apology to Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia.
Flanked by Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia, AAP’s Punjab unit leaders Bhagwant Mann, Aman Arora and Harpal Singh Cheema, Kejriwal said, “The Amarinder Singh-led state government has failed to live up to the expectations of people in Punjab. I can teach him (Amarinder) how to govern,” he said.
“We invite Captain Amarinder Singh to visit Delhi to see how government schools, hospitals and mohalla clinics work. If you don’t know, we can teach you how to do it. We can send Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia to Punjab for 10 days to tell the Congress government as how these institutions can be strengthened,” he added.
On the issue of sacrilege of Guru Granth and the Ranjit Singh Commission report, Kejriwal asked Amarinder Singh to make the report public and act against the guilty, including politicians and police officials.
“Through media reports, we have come to know that many police officials have been named. It even points a finger at former CM Parkash Singh Badal. To punish those behind sacrilege incidents was one of promise of the Congress in the run-up to the assembly polls,” said Kejriwal.
He accused Captain Amarinder Singh of helping the guilty by shifting the probe to the CBI as this will put the matter on the backburner.
Earlier in the day at the bhog ceremony of party MLA Kulwant Singh Pandori’s father at Mehal Kalan in Barnala district, Kejriwal gave former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira and other rebel MLAs the cold shoulder. The two did not even exchange pleasantries.
‘WILL RESOLVE THE RIFT AMICABLY’
Kejriwal, however, termed the rift in the party as a ‘family matter’ saying it will be resolved.
“We will talk to the MLAs who are angry. I have deputed some MLAs to talk to Khaira and others. I will also talk to them to resolve the issue. We are concerned about the betterment of Punjab and we will have a united face. Now, will come more frequently to Punjab,” the Delhi chief minister said.
MANN INVITES ‘ELDER BROTHER’ TO STAGE , KHAIRA OBLIGES
At the bhog ceremony, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann invited former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira to stage to speak. Khaira thanked him and paid tributes to the late father of Mehal Kalan MLA Pandori.
After counting the struggles of the Pandori family against what he termed as wrongdoings in the society, Khaira talked as how politics in India, including Punjab, had becomes ‘dirty’.
“The politics of has polluted to the extent that people are facing a lot of problems. The traditional leadership had failed to solve these issues. The people of Punjab want justice but there is no party to deliver them justice,” said Khaira. Once Khaira ended his speech, Mann invited Kejriwal to speak. When Kejriwal started his speech, people started leaving the venue.
Many police officials have been named in the Ranjit Singh panel report . It even points a finger at former CM Parkash Singh Badal. ARVIND KEJRIWAL, AAP national convener and Delhi CM