Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest marks beginning of end of Aam Admi Party: Ex-Punjab LoP
Punjab MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira was leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly (Image credit X Sukhpal Singh Khaira)
In the wake of the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, his former colleagues are arguing that the beleaguered leader of the Aam Aadmi Party is paying for his misdeeds. Sukhpal Singh Khaira was also a former colleague of Kejriwal while being the main Opposition party in Punjab during 2017-18, and he told Bhawna Malik in an interview that Delhi CM is only reaping what he had sowed. Khaira is currently an MLA in Punjab from Bholanath Assembly constituency while also being Chairman All India Kisan Congress.
Qn: Your reaction to the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by the Enforcement Department?
Khaira: It’s the end of the Aam Admi Party (AAP). The law has to take its course. Kejriwal had been summoned nine times and he was just disrespecting the Constitution. If he is honest, then there is no need to fear. The allegations are court-verified.
Qn: His arrest is being termed as a part of a vendetta politics. Do you agree?
Khaira: The so called ‘Kattar Imaandar (dry honest) Kejriwal has nothing to fear provided he is innocent. You reap what you sow. What vendetta is he complaining about? Has he not started this kind of politics in Punjab. Using the agencies of ED, CBI for ulterior motives. Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Maan behave like dictators. Whosoever opposes the AAP in Punjab is served with a summon or faces an arrest.
Qn. You were part of the AAP in Punjab but your relationship turned sour. Why?
Khaira: I was influenced and inspired by the Anna Hazare movement, and also the plank of the honesty for the AAM Admi – a common man. This made me join the AAP but I was in for a shock. It’s not only me. All the independent thinkers like Prashant Bhushan, Yogender Yadav, Ashutosh, and others were either silenced, removed or they left on their own. I speak my mind openly hence that doesn’t go down well with Kejriwal. I was suspended by him on Twitter. Does the government function like this? Kejriwal has an insecure personality. He wants a yes man. But that’s not how democracy works.
Qn. How do you rate the AAP government in Punjab?
Khaira: It’s a zero rating for the AAP government in Punjab. The deviation of the Aam Admi Party from its core ideology claiming that it’s a party of and/ for common man is hardly visible. Punjab CM, Bhagwant Maan has thousand security personnels for himself. Which other CM of Punjab has had such number of security men, the kind of luxurious cars he uses and his family too uses the official cars. They behave like corporates. I would say the AAP leaders are bonded labour dancing on the tunes of Kejriwal.
Qn. The AAP leaders in Delhi say that Kejriwal will remain the CM and not resign. Your take on this?
Khaira: He should resign on moral grounds. How can he be a CM facing such serious charges of corruption against him. The AAP always claimed to be a zero corruption party. They should stand by this maxim.
Qn. Who do you think will replace Kejriwal?
Khaira: The AAP hardly has any leaders. They all are dummies and this suits Kejriwal. Atishi Marlena, Raghav Chaddha, or Saurabh Bhardwaj, are not leaders, rather they are pigmies. Sanjay Singh is a matured leader but Kejriwal will have someone who is a yes man.
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