Phoolka to surrender Cabinet rank to fight for 1984 riot victims

Aam Aadmi Party MlA and the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha HS Phoolka has decided to surrender the cabinet minister rank to fight for the cause of the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims. 

Days after the Bar Council raised objections on Phoolka holding ‘office of profit’ while also practicing law, Phoolka on Thursday shared his decision on the micro-blogging website, Twitter. “Will not give up 84 carnage cases. Asking Bar Council if by giving up Minister status, I can appear in these cases,” he tweeted. 

Delhi Bar Council had disallowed Phoolka to appear for the victims in several cases against Congress leader Sajjan Kumar and others.

The Council had argued that Phoolka enjoys cabinet rank in his capacity of being leader of Opposition, which is an office of profit, and getting Rs two lakh salary and perks per month. 

Phoolka said that he had requested the Bar Council to allow him to appear in 1984 riot cases as he was willing to leave his cabinet rank. 

AAP leader has made a name for himself by representing 1984 victims for over 30 years, without charging any fees. 

Following the Bar Council’s objection, Phoolka was in quandary as he could not leave either of 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims or his leading his nascent party in Vidhan Sabha. AAP, in its first assembly polls in Punjab, secured the place of being the main opposition party with 20 seats, pushing the SAD-BJP combine to poor third with 18 MlAs. 

Phoolka, though a first-timer, is accepted as a leader by all MlAs and enjoys their support and confidence, besides that of the party high command and national convener Arvind Kejriwal. However, his differences with Bholath MlA Sukhpal Khaira are not unknown.