Page 26 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

Sukhpal Khaira’s controversial

remark backing ‘Referendum

2020’ lands AAP in soup

Opposition leader in Punjab assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira landed himself and Aap Aadmi
Party in a soup by backing the controversial demand for `Punjab Referendum 2020’, considered as
secessionist move of the radicals for the creation of Khalistan which haunted the nation in 1984 and
in later years, writes rajendra khatry

he Aap Aadmi Party the crisis. AAP refused to buy Khai- support the demand for Referen-
(AAP) has been trying ra’s casual denial of the real intent dum 2020.
to wriggle out of an em- of his remarks on the referendum. AAP leadership has not forgot-
barrassing situation it Incensed over Khaira’s remarks, ten how the party suffered in the
T faced due to the contro- AAP leadership pulled him up and Punjab state assembly polls last year
versial remark by its leader, Sukh- he was summoned to Delhi. when Kejriwal had stayed in the
pal Singh Khaira, for backing the According to sources, the party house of an alleged Khalistani sup-
controversial demand for ‘Punjab expressed its anguish over his re- porter. SAD, Congress and the BJP
Referendum 2020’. As the politi- marks on such a sensitive issue. had raised heckles over the issue
cal atmosphere got charged up in Khaira’s statement lent credence during the election campaign and
Punjab after the remark, Khaira re- to people’s perception that AAP maligned AAP, claiming that it had
tracted his statement the very next supports groups with dubious the backing and the support of the
day, saying he was misunderstood demands. Khalistani elements and was trying
for what he had said. Khaira said AAP party in-charge of Punjab to win the poll on the basis of that.
he did not support the idea of Khal- affairs Manish Sisodia demanded a Perception counts a lot in the
istan. Explaining his statement, he written explanation from Sukhpal eyes of the public. AAP’s denial be-
said there is a need to ponder why Khaira with regard to the Referen- fore the Punjab assembly last year
such demands were being raised dum 2020. Displaying his apparent that it had any connection with the
again in Punjab. He explained that displeasure, AAP supremo Arvind Khalistani elements had failed to
perhaps this was so because of the Kejriwal even refused to meet him convince Punjab voters who had
result of certain consistent policy during his visit to Delhi. Later Khai- then overwhelmingly voted in fa-
of bias against Punjab and Punjabis ra issued a statement that he did not vour of the Congress and AAP could
over issues like water distribution, manage to win just 20 assembly seat
no punishment to the culprits of the to be relegated to the position of the
anti-Sikh riots in 1994 etc. AAP suffered in main opposition party in the state.
Khaira even attacked both Capt AAP finds itself in a similar situ-
Amarinder Singh of the Congress Punjab assembly ation now. Khaira’s statement has
and Parkash Singh Badal of the polls last year the potential to damage AAP’s rep-
Shiromani Akali Dal for backing se- utation in Punjab. Not just the op-
cessionist demands in the past. He after Kejriwal position parties, but AAP itself im-
wondered why such a hue and cry mediately distanced itself from his
was being raised now when in the had stayed statement. AAP Punjab’s co-presi-
past no one had condemned Capt in the house dent Dr Balbir Singh declared that
Amarinder and Badal on their ob- the party does not support any Ref-
jectionable demands. of an alleged erendum 2020. He said AAP stands
Sensing adverse reaction to Khalistani for unity and integrity of India. An-
Khaira’s statement, AAP tried its gered with Khaira’s statement, Bal-
damage control measures to defuse supporter bir Singh said the AAP party high

Tehelka / 15 july 2018 26 www.Tehelka.com

26-27 Rajendra Khatry.indd 2 03/07/18 3:47 PM