Former Minister and an Akali stalwart Sewa Singh Sekhwan joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday after the party convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal especially descended at Gurdaspur to induct him in the party fold. His induction in AAP is expected to strengthen the party in Majha.
Sekhwan, currently the member of Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) floated by the traditional Akali leaders like Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, had served as the Minister in the Parkash Singh Badal-led Akali Government.
After reaching Amritsar airport in the afternoon, Kejriwal travelled to Sekhwan’s residence at his native village Sekhwan in Gurdaspur district, where Delhi Chief Minister was warmly welcomed by Sekhwan and his family. Kejriwal spent some time at Sekhwan’s residence and inquired about his wellbeing.
“He blessed us and joined our family. We welcome him in our family and we want him to guide us,” said Kejriwal after the Akali leader’s induction.
The 71-year-old Sekhwan was a senior vice-president of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt). He quit SAD, led by the Badals, in 2018 after raising a banner of revolt against the party leadership, especially its president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Thereafter, Sekhwan, former MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura and former MP Rattan Singh Ajnala had formed the SAD (Taksali). Later, he switched over to the SAD (Democratic) formed by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa in 2020.
In May this year, SAD (Sanyukt) was floated after the dissolution of Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led SAD (Democratic) and SAD (Taksali).
INDIA IS ONE FROM KASHMIR TO KANYAKUMARI”
Disapproving of the recent controversial remarks made by Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu’s two advisers, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said: “From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one”.
Kejriwal, talking to the media in Gurdaspur, said that he had heard some statements on Kashmir and the country in the past one or two days. “I believe that from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, India is one. Nobody can separate us. Such statements are not right,” he said, without directly referring to Sidhu’s advisers.
“Punjab is a border state. If any statement is to be given then it should be given responsibly,” Kejriwal said, adding, “We do not want to do politics over such issues.”
The controversial remarks by Sidhu’s two advisers — Malvinder Singh Mali and Pyare Lal Garg — on sensitive issues like Kashmir and Pakistan came under sharp criticism from within the Congress and the Opposition.
In a social media post, Mali had waded into the issue of revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. He had reportedly said if Kashmir was a part of India, then what was the need to have Articles 370 and 35A. He had also said, “Kashmir is a country of Kashmiri people.”