Kejri by his side, ex-Akali minister Sekhwan joins AAP
AAP CONVENER CRITICISES CONTROVERSIAL REMARKS OF SIDHU’S ADVISER ON KASHMIR, SAYS FROM KASHMIR TO KANYAKUMARI, INDIA IS ONE
GURDASPUR : Sewa Singh Sekhwan, 71, a former Akali minister and a senior Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) leader, his son Jagroop Singh Sekhwan and associates joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the presence Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal at his house in Gurdaspur district on Thursday.
With this, Sekhwan has changed three political parties in as many years. “I was keeping unwell for the past several months, but none of my old colleagues came to enquire after my health. It is Kejriwal ji who visited me in this hour. I am grateful to him,” Sekhwan said.
The AAP national convener along with Punjab affairs incharge Jarnail Singh and co-in-charge Raghav Chadha arrived at the Amritsar airport from Delhi in the morning. They were joined by party’s Punjab president Bhagwant Mann and other state leaders.
Inducting Sekhwan into the party, Kejriwal said, “He and his family have done a lot for Punjab and made great contribution in the politics of the state. Today, he has become a part of our family to serve the state.” “We want such a Punjab where all people can enjoy peace, harmony and equal rights,” he said.
Reacting to the controversial remarks made by Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu’s adviser Malwinder Singh Mali over social media, he said, “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one and nobody can disintegrate it.”
“Punjab was once the number 1 state in the country. Therefore, we will re-create a Punjab of peace, harmony and brotherhood. Punjab is a border state and nobody should make divisive statements here,” he added.
Sekhwan, a former senior vice-president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD-Sanyukt), has been keeping a low profile since former minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and former MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura joined their hands in June.
Dhindsa and Brahmpura—the Akali leaders, who parted ways from the Shiromani Akali Dal over its chief Sukhbir Singh Badal’s style of working—had formed the SAD (Sanyukt) after dissolving their factions, the SAD (Democratic) and SAD (Taksali). The SAD (Taksali) was formed by Brahmpura, Sekhwan and former MP Ratan Singh Ajnala in December 2018 after the trio leaders had raised a banner of revolt against the SAD. Last year, Dhindsa floated the SAD (Democratic). From SAD (T), Sekhwan was the first to join hands with Dhindsa.
As Sekhwan is not well, his son may contest the assembly elections from Qadian, said sources close to him.