Referendum hardly an issue: AAP MLAs

Chandigarh, June 18

AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira’s statement on the Sikh Referendum 2020 saw a renewed confrontation between state co-convener Dr Balbir Singh and Khaira on Monday even as a number of party MLAs termed it a non-issue.

Balbir Singh took on the Leader of Opposition Khaira on Twitter for the latter’s remarks on Sunday that the party leaders issued statements against him on the referendum without first clarifying what he had actually said. Dr Balbir tweeted that he called up Khaira five times, but the latter “didn’t respond”. Today, Khaira insisted on Twitter he was not in favour of the referendum.

Kotkapura AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan said it was a sorry state of affairs that referendum was being talked about more than pressing issues of unemployment, deteriorating health and education sectors, besides water shortage and pollution problem.

Kharar MLA Kanwar Sandhu, in a Facebook post from Toronto, said referendum was a non-issue and AAP stood for multiculturalism.

“This (referendum) is a non-issue in India. The Indian Constitution does not provide for a referendum. Besides, there is no demand for a referendum in Punjab. So we are not stupid to raise this demand — when majority of people in Punjab don’t want to or have not done so.

“Since I drafted the manifesto for Punjab’s AAP, I feel that only the AAP can ensure that each one in Punjab — Sikhs, Hindus, Muslims, Christians and all others, especially Dalits — feel the ‘glow of freedom’ under the AAP’s rule.... That is why we ask for full statehood for Delhi. Look at Akalis — they launched ‘dharm yudh’ and got 35,000 people in Punjab killed. Where is their stand for federalism today?” he said.

Mansa MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia said for him and his supporters, peace in the state as well as unity in the party were paramount, “I pray to all not to do anything which can vitiate the peace in the state. I also pray to all party leaders to keep the party united.” — TNS

Book Khaira for sedition: Akalis

Chandigarh: Akali leaders Bikram Majithia and Daljit Cheema on Monday demanded appropriate legal action under the anti-sedition laws be taken against Sukhpal Khaira for his “open support to initiatives aimed at dismemberment of the country”. Majithia said AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal should break his silence on Khaira and announce action. TNS

Cruel joke on Sikh detainees: Khaira

Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira on Monday said he felt peeved at the timid decision of the Modi government to oppose a delayed meagre relief of Rs 4 lakh each to 40 Sikhs who were wrongly detained for five years at Jodhpur jail post Op Bluestar. Khaira said this was the cruellest joke the BJP could have played on Sikhs victimised 34 years ago for no fault of theirs. “We all are aware that many devotees were killed during the Operation Bluestar in 1984 and many innocent people were erroneously detained for over five years at Jodhpur jail,” he said. He said he was surprised to notice the stoic silence being maintained by SAD’s Sukhbir Badal and his wife Harsimrat Kaur. TNS