NRI SUPPORTERS BACK KHAIRA

CHANDIGARH: Upset over his unceremonious removal from the post of leader of opposition in Punjab assembly, NRI supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday came out in support of Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and eight party legislators who stood by him.

Announcing their support for Khaira and his group, the NRIS from the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand said the big Punjab leadership had shrunk to zero. “It is your time to stand with Khaira,” they said in an open letter to other party MLAS in the state.

Conveying their disappointment with recent development, the NRIS asked all AAP MLAS to attend the volunteers’ convention by the Khaira group in Bathinda on August 2. If you need any help with rides, bus fares our teams can help,” they said.

Rural) and Jai Kishan Rori (Garshankar), Manjit Singh Bilaspur (Nihal Singh Wala), Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Barnala) and Kulwant Singh Pandori (Mehal Kalan). Delhi leaders Durgesh Pathak, who was earlier co-in-charge of party affairs in Punjab, and ex-rajouri Garden MLA Jarnail Singh were also present. Dakkha MLA HS Phoolka also showed up, but left early. The failure to end the impasse is a big setback for the party ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in a state where it had made a breathtaking start in the previous parliamentary polls by winning four seats. And, it has been rocked by upheavals since.

The situation appears set to escalate further later this week with the party warning its leaders against attending the convention. The Khaira group is holding meetings in different assembly constituencies to drum up support, besides making appeals to all party MLAS, office-bearers and other leaders to reach Bathinda on Thursday.