After nine days in AAP, Balwinder rejoins Congress

Gagan K Teja

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 31

Former PPCC secretary Balwinder Kaur, who had joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on December 22 and levelled charges of sexual exploitation against Madan Lal Jalapur, former MLA and Congress candidate from Ghanaur, returned to the party fold today.

Balwinder rejoined the party at Rajpura, the constituency represented by Hardyal Singh Kamboj, in the presence of former Union Minister and Congress MLA Preneet Kaur. Kamboj and Jalalpur are co-father-in-laws.

Balwinder had moved a local court on December 28, seeking the registration of a case against Jalalpur under Sections 376 (rape) and 354 (outraging of modesty) of the IPC.

On her decision to rejoin the Congress, Balwinder alleged that the AAP leadership, especially state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich, had lured her to join the party on the promise of giving her a good political opportunity. About her allegations against Jalalpur, she said there was a misunderstanding, which had now been resolved. Jagmohan Singh Saini, joint secretary of the AAP legal cell, who is pursuing Balwinder’s case, said, “If it is proved that she made a false complaint, she can be booked under Section 182 of the CrPC.”

Meanwhile, Preneet said Balwinder would be reinstated as a PPCC secretary soon.