The Aam Aadmi Party’s rebel group in Punjab, led by MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, has decided to start an ‘Insaaf March’ from December 8 against the ruling Congress government to highlight its alleged failures.
Lok Insaaf Party president Simarjeet Singh Bains and the Punjab Manch, headed by suspended AAP MP from Patiala Dharamvira Gandhi, have also decided to participate in the March that would start from Talwandi Sabo and culminate at Patiala on December 16.
‘Denying justice’
“The ruling Congress like its predecessors, the Akalis, is trying to deny justice on the burning issue of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and the Behbal Kalan killings. It is over three years now and not even a constable has been punished for killing two Sikhs in the broad daylight shoot-out of 2015,” alleged Mr. Khaira here at a joint press conference.
He alleged that the SIT questioning Akali Dal leaders Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal was just an eyewash.
Mr. Gandhi and Mr. Bains said that the aim of ‘Insaaf March’ would be to save the ‘Kissani-Jawani’ (farming-youth) of the State by highlighting the woes of farmers and youth who were totally disillusioned by the Congress government.
“Farmers and farm labourers are struggling under debts and committing suicides in large numbers each day. More than 550 small and marginal farmers have committed suicide in the 20 months of the Congress regime,” they said.
They added that the ‘Har Ghar Naukri’ scheme of Capt. Amarinder Singh has flopped. “Unemployment coupled with drugs is leading to anarchy, chaos and multifold increase in crime in Punjab.”
New party next month
Mr. Khaira and seven other rebels may launch a new party next month, the former indicated. The three leaders said the new party would contest the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if they get the people’s mandate. They will seek this mandate at a meeting in Patiala next month, a press release said.
Mr. Khaira said that if the people gave their go-ahead, they would form a new party and forge a “grand alliance” with like-minded parties and individuals.
Mr. Khaira and seven other AAP MLAs rebelled in July when the party replaced him as Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly.
(With PTI inputs)