AAP shows the door to top functionary in Punjab, state unit in turmoil

By Rajendra Khatry and Debobrat Ghose Chandigarh/New Delhi: Expelling any voice of dissent seems to have become the standard approach of the Delhi leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). AAP’s Delhi leadership (read central leadership) has prevailed over the provincial one, i.e. Punjab, by booting Daljit Singh out of the party.[caption id=“attachment_2349176” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tough on dissenters. PTI[/caption] Earlier, it was Karan Singh who later formed the Aam Aadmi Volunteers’ Action Manch (AVAM). Then came the turn of Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan who were expelled from the party on charges of ‘anti-party activities’. The duo formed Swaraj Abhiyan. And now, on 16 July, the party has expelled one of the prominent members in Punjab’s AAP unit – Daljit Singh, a renowned ophthalmologist from Amritsar, who was the chairman of the state disciplinary committee. The charges are the same. Through an email and a letter signed by three members – Dinesh Waghela, Ashish Khetan and Pankaj Gupta, the national disciplinary committee of AAP informed Singh of his expulsion, citing the reason to be ‘guilty of gross indiscipline and anti-party activities’. “Yes, I have received the communication about my expulsion from the party. I performed my duty as a party member with honesty. Though, I’m no longer with the party now, I’ll continue my contribution of Rs 5000 per month and bear other office expenses including the office premises that belongs to me. I don’t want any harm to the party, as thousands of people are associated with it. May God give them wisdom,” Singh told Firstpost. Perturbed by Singh’s expulsion, AAP volunteers in Amritsar will be meeting today, to discuss the further course of action. “It’s a serious issue. Singh has an impeccable image in Punjab both as a doctor and a human being. The way Delhi leadership arbitrarily expelled him from the party shows that they are least bothered about the AAP in Punjab. This way the AAP will gradually lose its base in the state, despite the fact that it’s the only party that can pose a strong challenge to the Shiromani Akali Dal,” an Amritsar-based volunteer said on condition of anonymity. Ashok Talwar, AAP National Council member from the Punjab, said, “Mistakes do happen, but Daljit Singh has a good image not only in Amritsar but in the Punjab as well. The party would have benefitted by his presence. We need to work by taking all people together; it should be a collective effort.” The difference between the earlier expulsions and that of Singh, is that it has generated negative response among the four Members of Parliament of AAP, who have already apparently turned against the party’s central leadership, alleging arbitrary functioning and unwanted interference. All four, incidentally, hail from the Punjab. On 6 July, the MP from Fatehgarh Sahib, Harinder Singh Khalsa in an email to Daljit Singh had alleged that the two leaders—one from Delhi Sanjay Singh and the other from Punjab Sucha Singh Chottepur (Punjab convener) - would ‘destroy AAP in Punjab’. “We’re shocked and angry to hear the news of the sacking of Daljit Singh… Bahut bura hua…He’s not just any ordinary member of the party, but an institution. There was no fault of his, as he had been trying to enforce discipline in the party for which he was appointed. But unfortunately the Delhi people have given in to the whims and fancies of Sanjay Singh, in cahoots with Sucha Singh Chottepur. What kind of democracy is this and what kind of autonomy? Kejriwal’s coterie has taken over the decision-making process in AAP. How can the party perform in the next Punjab Assembly election? We’re very angry with the party high command’s decision and we express our resentment. We won’t be sitting quiet,” Khalsa told Firstpost. Another MP from Patiala, Dharamvira Gandhi remarked, “There is a strong resentment among the party volunteers in Punjab over this decision. The AAP leadership in Delhi is treating Punjab as a colony, like the British did during their colonial rule. We are the only candidates from Punjab who won the Parliament seats for the party in the entire country. But without consulting the Punjab unit, the central leadership has been taking arbitrary decisions, which will jeopardize AAP’s winning prospects in Punjab election in 2017. Punjab AAP convener Chottepur, backed by Sanjay Singh has been functioning arbitrarily and running a parallel system. Since, Daljit Singh voiced our concern, he was expelled. This shows that there’s no democracy in the party.” He added, “We’re in touch with our other members and would be meeting soon on this issue and take a decision.”