Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. (Source: File photo)

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal delivered a snub to rebel AAP MLAs Thursday saying that his politics was not limited to Sukhpal Khaira alone and he had other issues to deal with. He also did not make any attempt to reach out to the dissident MLAs and instead met the pro-Delhi faction.

Addressing a press conference here and answering questions pertaining to the internal squabble in the Punjab unit, Kejriwal said that he was more focussed on issues of corruption and environment. “My politics is not limited to Khaira alone,” he said. In response to a remark attributed to Khaira that he would never even take the name of Kejriwal, the Delhi CM responded with a smile that he would rather not have Khaira take his name. He also said that there are differences in each party, which is like a family, and that these would be resolved in their own time.

Answering another specific question on any proposed action against Khaira, Kejriwal said it was an internal matter of the party. “Party will act when the times comes. Whatever action needs to be taken will be taken,” he said.

The press conference of Kejriwal ended in disarray as more and more questions were directed at Kejriwal pertaining to the discord within the party in Punjab. The AAP chief asked mediapersons to ask him more questions on Haryana since that was his topic for the press conference but seeing questions on Punjab being directed at him, he left the press conference.

Later, Kejriwal held a meeting with the faction loyal to the Delhi leadership and met five candidates selected for the Lok Sabha polls. Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema said that it was a brief interaction and nothing was discussed about party affairs. “There was no agenda for the meeting and no discussion about the factionalism took place because Arvind Kejriwal wanted to discuss the campaign plan of the candidates,” he said.

Reacting to the developments, Sukhpal Khaira said he had never used any bad language for Kejriwal. He said that he and his fellow MLAs had not got any invitation to meet Kejriwal.

“As far as internal squabbles comment of his is concerned, I think he has said this several times in the past. There is no serious attempt on his part towards fostering unity in the party. They have unilaterally announced candidates for Lok Sabha polls. We are still waiting for a positive response from them till November 8,” he said.

‘Court decision on SYL will be acceptable’ Arvind Kejriwal said that since Punjab and Haryana had failed to arrive at a mutual consensus to solve the SYL issue then the only recourse was to accept the decision of the Supreme Court. He blamed the Congress and the BJP governments at the Centre for failing to bring the two states to a consensus. “There was a time when, both, Congress and BJP, had their governments in Centre, Punjab and Haryana yet their failed to address the issue,” he said.