A day after the opposition alliance changed its name from UPA to I.N.D.I.A.  to fight against the BJP-led NDA in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024, Punjab Congress on Wednesday made clear its stand against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the State maintaining that they will not tone down their voice against the AAP Government in Punjab even after the opposition alliance.

To discuss the issue, a closed-door meeting of the Punjab Congress’ senior leadership was held at Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh on Wednesday. However, the party leaders maintained that the issues concerning the state, like recent floods, affected areas, compensation to the victims, and other burning matters, that need immediate attention were discussed during the meeting.

Sources maintained that the party’s top leaders also discussed the stance to be taken by the Punjab Congress in the wake of the AAP and Congress being among total 26 political parties joining hands to form an alliance — Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).

“Punjab Congress will continue to fight against the AAP over public issues in the State,” said Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday, while interacting with the media.

Warring reiterated his stand, he took following the Congress’ decision to oppose the Centre’s ordinance related to the control of services in Delhi in the Parliament in AAP’s support, that the Congress’ fight is against the assault on the constitutional rights of states. “Whenever the BJP-led Central Government will try to sabotage federalism, the Congress will oppose it,” Warring had said after the AICC general secretary KC Venugopal had announced the party’s decision to oppose the ordinance in AAP’s support. Warring had also made it clear that the Congress took the principled stand to save the Constitution, but “this does not mean the party is backing the AAP”.

Responding to media queries, Warring on Wednesday said that the Congress has “always fought for protecting constitutional values and saving democracy”.

“Many opposition parties that are against the ideology of the BJP and the RSS have joined hands…But you (media) give it a colour that (a political) alliance has been forged. Till now, no such discussion has taken place. We are the main opposition party in Punjab…If such an issue (alliance) comes up in the states, then they (party high command) will consult the state units and a decision will be taken,” said Warring.

Notably, following the formation of a joint opposition, INDIA, the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been targeting the Congress for joining hands with the AAP. They have maintained that both the Congress and the AAP have entered into a “pact” and the grand old party should now be called the “government party” in Punjab.

In fact, a day before, SAD’s former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia had also written a letter to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker urging him to provide seats to the Congress MLAs in the treasury benches among the AAP’s legislators following their “unholy wedlock of the most immoral kind”.

“Cong playing a Trojan Horse against Punjabis by refusing to act Opposition and merging with

@AAPPunjab. Vidhan Sabha reduced to a lame duck House. I urge Speaker Vidhan Sabha @Sandhwan to call Cong-AAP constitutional bluff and recognize Congress officially as part of govt and allot them seats on treasury benches…Congress-AAP have a quid pro quo in which Congress will not contest against AAP in Punjab and Delhi and AAP in turn will not oppose @INCIndia anywhere in the rest of the country,” Majithia had tweeted on Tuesday.

BJP’s national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill on Wednesday tweeted, “After announcement of “double-standard” alliance, AAP & Congress are “ONE” in Punjab! Congress should resign or be removed from “Leader of Opposition” post from Punjab Vidhan Sabha Assembly after all “AAP & Congress” are now “UNITED”!”

At the same time, Warring categorically said: “We are the principal opposition party in Punjab and we will continue to fight against the AAP government on public issues.” He added that the Congress is fighting against AAP in Punjab on many issues like drug menace and flood situation.