In a strong display of their commitment to the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), both the Indian National Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have asserted their dedication to the alliance. The collective resolve comes amidst the backdrop of the arrest of Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, a day before, in connection with a drug trafficking case.
While the Congress party, at the national level, has vehemently condemned the arrest as an act of vendetta politics against the opposition, it has maintained that this incident will not impact the INDIA alliance, where the AAP is also a partner.
The development unfolds amid continued opposition from the Congress leaders in Punjab, who have consistently voiced their resistance to any alliance with the AAP in the state. The entire state leadership of the Congress staged a massive protest against the AAP-led Punjab government on Friday, labeling Khaira's arrest as a clear case of “political vendetta” for raising voice against the state government.
Congress’ national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, addressing the media in the national capital on Friday, expressed her strong disapproval of the arrest of MLA Khaira, characterizing it as a “shameful” example of vendetta politics and an assault on free speech and opposition. She expressed hope that rational voices within the AAP would prevail, ensuring a just resolution to the situation.
“Any assault on free speech and any assault on the opposition, which smacks of vendetta politics, must and should be denounced. We absolutely denounce the arrest of Khaira Ji. He is not just our MLA but also the head of Kisan Congress, and I do appeal that more sane minds in the Aam Aadmi Party will prevail and will not let the unbridled Punjab government act out of vendetta like it has been doing,” Supriya Shrinate remarked when questioned about Khaira's arrest.
The Congress spokesperson underlined that Khaira's arrest was not only condemnable but also an affront to democracy itself. She made it clear that the Congress would vigorously oppose any instance of vendetta politics directed at the opposition.
Responding to inquiries regarding the potential impact on the INDIA coalition, she said, “I don't think so...nothing will impact the alliance.” She also emphasized that discussions among opposition parties were ongoing, even if they were not being conducted publicly.
On the same note, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal affirmed his party's commitment to the INDIA alliance. He declared that the AAP had no intention of breaking away from the alliance and was dedicated to upholding the alliance's principles.
When asked about Khaira's arrest, Kejriwal stated, “I have heard that a specific person have been arrested in a drugs case, but I don't have details. You will have to talk to the Punjab Police.”
He reiterated the Bhagwant Mann government's commitment to eradicating the drug menace that has afflicted the youth in Punjab, emphasizing that no one, regardless of their stature, would be spared in this fight.
Khaira’s arrest in connection with a 2015 drug trafficking case has triggered political reactions. The Punjab Congress has already expressed its opposition to any alliance with the AAP in the state for the 2024 parliamentary elections.
In the midst of this development, Haryana Congress president Uday Bhan referred to Khaira's detention as a “political arrest”. He also clarified that the conflict between the Punjab units of Congress and AAP was unrelated to the INDIA alliance.
Bhan asserted, “The whole party stands with him...The alliance is in the Parliament, and there is a coordination committee for it. It is a different matter; this (Sukhpal Khaira's arrest) is a different matter.”
The situation remains fluid, with political parties maintaining their positions while navigating the complexities of state politics and national alliances.
Punjab Cong leaders stopped from meeting Khaira in Fazilka
Punjab Congress’s senior leadership, led by its president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader Partap Singh Bajwa, on Friday visited the Jalalabad police station to meet arrested leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira in police presence but were stopped from meeting him.
Lashing out at AAP for indulging in “vendetta politics”, the leaders told the media persons that it was a courtesy call, but permission was denied. The incident exposed the fact that the party in power was misusing the Police force to intimidate opposition leaders, the leaders accused.
Saying that attempts were being made to gag the voice of vocal leaders, Warring accused the AAP of using Police force to harass the opposition. “We are aware that the entire process is purely politically motivated, and the police force is being ‘misused’ to pressurise our leader,” he said.
“The Congress leaders won’t be bulldozed by such use of force or ‘political harassment’…These cheap tactics only expose the real face of the incompetent AAP leadership and the hollow claims of AAP that failed drastically to fulfill the poll promises made to the people of Punjab and was hellbent on silencing those who question the government and attempt to safeguard the interests of Punjabis,” he said.
