Victim, eyewitness, convict all join AAP

Bharat Khanna

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 25

A murderous attack survivor, an eyewitness in the case and the man convicted of the crime — all from Mansa’s Jhabbar village —  joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) here today.  It was only later in the day that AAP, in a damage-control move, expelled the convict.

Bant Singh Jhabbar, a CPI(ML) leader who lost his arms and a leg in a deadly assault, had launched a struggle against caste bias and oppression in 2006, making him an icon of Dalit upsurge. 

He had recently refused an award by AAP’s Delhi Government, saying he would not accept money from any party. 

Not only Bant Singh, but his assaulter Navdeep Singh, a local Congress leader and Jat Mahasabha general secretary, as well as eyewitness Surjit Singh, now a panchayat member, also joined AAP today. 

The three were seen with AAP leader Sanjay Singh, who was here to meet Mansa traders. Bant Singh alleged he had been let down by his party (CPI-ML) leaders. “They did not come to my rescue 

when my land was ‘acquired’ by local Akali leaders. I have joined AAP now as the party promises to work for the welfare of labourers and Dalits,” he said. 

Addressing the traders, Sanjay Singh described the  community as the backbone of economy. He promised business-friendly environment in the state. “For prompt clearance to new ventures, a single-window system will be introduced and ‘Inspector Raj’ abolished.

“The Kejriwal government in Delhi has cut VAT on several items. Similar measures will be initiated in Punjab, if elected,” he told the traders.

Demonetisation, he said, was a conspiracy to benefit big industrial houses by waiving corporate loans, while warning the people not to fall a prey to the BJP propaganda.