AAP MP Khalsa denies backing Swaraj Party

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 30

A day after the Punjab unit of Yogendra Yadav’s Swaraj Abhiyan, led by Prof Manjit Singh, announced a regional political party here on Sunday, as reported by this newspaper, Aam Aadmi Party rebel and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa on Monday clarified that the report wrongly stated that he and Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi had backed the newly formed party and expressed solidarity with it.

Khalsa said that on the insistence of Prof Manjit Singh, he did sign a note wishing the latter well in holding a convention but it nowhere mentioned the formation of the party and his support for it.

On Sunday, in a setback to Swaraj Abhiyan, its Punjab unit had announced the Swaraj Party.

Anupam, national spokesperson for Swaraj Abhiyan, had said, “The decision to form a political party has not been taken in accordance with the due process laid down by the Abhiyan.”

He said from the beginning Swaraj Abhiyan had declared that it was committed to building alternative politics.

“We decided not to form a party and have laid down some parameters of transparency, accountability and inner party democracy to prove ourselves on the criteria before a decision on party formation can be taken,” he said.

He had said that since his Punjab colleagues did not follow the process, “we are unable to own or endorse the decision. However, Punjab needs alternative politics to rid itself of the Akali-BJP misrule”.