Sukhpal Singh Khaira to float new party on Tuesday, not to quit as MLA

CHANDIGARH: Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who resigned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday, is going to float a new political party on Tuesday. He said that the Punjab Democratic Alliance (PDA) formed by suspended AAP MLAs along with Bahujan Samaj Party and Lok Insaaf Party leaders last month would announce the seat sharing arrangement for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in its meeting to be held at Ludhiana either of January 11 or 12.

Khaira claimed that after Harvinder Singh Phoolka and him, another AAP MLA from Jaito, Baldev Singh, is also going to resign from the party very soon. However, the MLA said that he has not yet taken any final decision to leave the party and will consult his supporters first.

Former leader of opposition (LoP) Khaira said that he and other suspended AAP leader Kanwar Sandhu had not yet resigned as MLAs because they did not want to put financial burden on the state exchequer for “avoidable” bypolls. “I don’t want that because of our wrong decision, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal could become leader of opposition in the assembly,” he added.

Citing examples, Khaira said that when Manpreet Badal had resigned in 2011 as Gidderbaha SAD MLA, his resignation was not accepted by then speaker of legislative assembly to avoid byelection. However, Khaira said he was ready for any election and to whatever the legislative assembly speaker decides.

Reacting to Kejriwal’s statement that he was an opportunist and power hungry, Khaira questioned the AAP supremo whether Prashant Bhushan, Yogender Yadav, Medha Patkar, H S Phoolka, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi, Ashutosh, Kumar Vishwas and other such leaders were also power hungry. He said AAP Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann had gone to meet Taksali Akali leader Ranjit Singh Brahmpura by setting his own house on fire. He challenged Mann to make his stand clear from the stage at Barnala on January 20 in AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s presence whether he agrees with Delhi CM’s apology to SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia on drugs issue.

Seeking amendment in the anti-defection law, Khaira demanded a debate at the national level stating that various amendments to the anti-defection law by both the Congress as well as the BJP has resulted in party presidents becoming dictators. “Since it has come into force, it has ended the democracy as no political party is holding fair elections,” he added.

Khaira also criticized the government’s decision for coming up with three toll plazas in Mansa and Bhatinda region. “We will protest against it on January 12 and 13. When people are paying the road tax, why should they pay at toll plazas installed at very short distances,” said Khaira. He said in developed nations there were toll plaza after a minimum stretch of 100 miles. Whereas those coming from Bathinda to Chandigarh have to pay at least Rs 500 at toll plazas for one-way journey.

He appreciated senior advocate Phoola for planning a group to end politicisation of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Kejriwal call Khaira power hungry

AAP supremo and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in Panchkula on Monday that those who wanted to fulfil their ambitions were free to leave. “The AAP was formed to get the country rid of corruption. Today, the performance of the AAP was gaining popularity worldwide and its performance was also being appreciated. The AAP is not meant for satisfy the greed of a few leaders who are after post and power,” Kejriwal told reporters here. “I always say who crave for any post or position, they should leave the AAP. The party and its ideology will get strengthened with such persons quitting,” he said.