Ousted leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Sukhpal Singh Khaira, and his trusted commandos, on Tuesday launched an all guns blazing assault on Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) central leader for its “dictatorial attitude” by terming the volunteers’ conference as “anti-party”.
Going ahead with the August 2 convention at Bathinda against the party’s diktat, Khaira maintained that AAP is not an individual’s fiefdom, and convention is being called on the volunteers’ demand to discuss the prevailing situation in the state party unit.
Making it amply clear that the convention is being held under AAP’s banner for which all the MlAs, office bearers, heads of party wings and zonal units, besides volunteers and workers, along with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and state party affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia have also been invited, Khaira declared that it would be held as per schedule.
Divided into two power centres — one headed by Khaira and another owing allegiance to the central leadership, AAP’s Punjab unit is moving towards a vertical split. For, Khaira-led faction is demanding “autonomy” for the state unit.
Besides the eight MlAs, Khaira is also enjoying massive support of the AAP’s Punjabi NRI supporters and the state volunteers. By holding the convention, Khaira would not only display his strength, but also send across a message to the party high command that state unit wanted to get free from the clutches of Delhi Durbar.
“The party is built by the Punjabis over the period of time. It is no one’s personal fiefdom. It is the time that we should take the reins of our fate into our own hands,” said Khaira.
He added, “Important decisions regarding Punjab are taken through mails, phone calls and WhatsApp messages and then conveyed through tweets by Delhi leadership.”
Responding to Sisodia’s declaration that action would be initiated against those participating in the “anti-party” convention, Kharar MlA Kanwar Sandhu made it clear that the Punjab party workers and volunteers are not “rubber stamps”.
“If a party volunteer in Punjab cannot hold a meeting on his own, then how he could be regarded as a volunteer…We agree that party leadership is supreme. They can order us. But we are not the rubber stamps that decisions are taken and then thrust upon us,” said Sandhu while blaming the party’s central leadership for not giving autonomy to the state unit to take decisions for the party’s benefit.
Recounting how first the then state conveners Sucha Singh Chotepur and Gurpreet Singh Ghughi and now Khaira were removed unceremoniously, he said that they wanted to ensure that the system of decisions being taken in Delhi without taking the Punjab unit into confidence is reversed.
Sandhu, a journalist-turned-politician, maintained that the convention is being organized on the demand and pressure of party volunteers who have all along been asking us about the prevailing situation within the party.
“AAP volunteers are asking us regarding Kejriwal's apology to SAD leader Bikram Majithia, and Khaira’s removal. And the convention is just a medium to answer their queries and also discuss the Punjab’s burning issues and devise a strategy for the 2019 lok Sabha polls,” he said, adding that the convention would “strengthen” the party in the state.
Defending the holding of congregation, Sandhu said: “AAP faced a defeat in 2017 polls despite a strong wave in its favour. Our performance in Gurdaspur and Shahkot bypolls was dismal. Party's graph is continuously going down…And the convention is being held to check this downfall. It is not an anti-party activity.”
AAP’s Punjab unit was hit by serious internal crisis after Sisodia’s tweet bomb announcing replacing Khaira with Dalit MlA Harpal Singh Cheema. A day after, Khaira and eight MlAs demanded “review” of the “undemocratic” decision.
Khaira-led faction was also called by the central leadership on Sunday night to resolve the issue, but after the talks failed miserably. Sisodia refused to review its decision to remove Khaira, and the rebel group remained firm to hold their convention as planned.
Sisodia has strictly warned the party workers to stay away from the “anti-party” convention. At the same time, the newly-appointed leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema has alleged that the convention was being organized with the help of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Taking to the social media, Khaira announced that the convention was being held under the AAP’ banner and there should be no confusion about it. He has also been posting a poster, on his social media handles, carrying pictures of Kejriwal and Sisodia asking party supporters to reach Bathinda in large numbers.
At the same time, he made it clear that he was not scared of getting suspended.
Sandhu claimed that they were expecting that 12 to 13 MlAs to would turn up at the event. To break away without inviting provisions of the anti-defection law, Khaira-led faction needs at least 14 MlAs.
WE’D AlSO RAISED VOICE FOR INTERNAl DEMOCRACY: DR GANDHI
Responding to the prevailing crisis within AAP’s Punjab unit, party’s “suspended” MP from Patiala Dr Dharamvira Gandhi on Tuesday said that he, Yogendra Yadav, and many others had also raised voice for intra-party democracy.
Dr Gandhi also maintained that AAP is heading for a vertical split in Punjab and this would happen “in a matter of few weeks”.
“Khaira had also raised voice on the intra-party democracy, for which I, Yogendra Yadav and others had raised ours too at one point of time. The party, which came into existence claiming that there would be no personality cult and no high command culture, has taken only two years where we are hearing that AAP is Kejriwal and Kejriwal is AAP,” he said.
However, Dr Gandhi made it clear that he would not participate in the volunteers’ convention organized by Khaira and the MlAs supporting him.
BAINS BROTHERS MAY ATTEND CONVENTION
Facing allegations of causing a split within AAP’s Punjab unit, the lok Insaaf Party president and MlA Simarjeet Singh Bains has backed extended his support to Khaira’s convention. Bains had visited the venue to oversee the preparations or the convention.
“lIP is Khaira’s party,” said Bains, who was criticized by AAP leaders, including Kejriwal, for being “anti-Dalit” for using the word “pappu” for Cheema.
“Since Khaira and his group are getting enormous response to the call for convention, Delhi leadership is worried. First, they call us B-team of RSS, BJP, Akalis and now anti-Dalit. They are so worried, they just want something negative to stick,” said Bains.
VENUE SHIFTED
Sandhu said that due to enthusiasm and outpouring of support from volunteers across the State, they had to shift the earlier venue from a Resort to the Stadium on Goniana Road.
“Besides all MlAs of the party in the state and various office bearers of the state unit, invitations had also been extended to party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy Chief Minister and in-charge of the party in Punjab, Manish Sasodia and other office bearers,” he said.