Khaira: AAP should have consulted me

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, June 17

Reiterating his stance that he never supported the “2020 Sikh referendum”, AAP leader Sukhpal Khaira on Sunday said the AAP leadership should have consulted him before issuing statements to the media and declaring that they would initiate action against him. He also took on the Congress and the Akali leadership, stating they had signed/supported resolutions akin to the “2020 referendum” many times in the past. He said he would quit politics if the government proved he supported the referendum.

Speaking to the media here, Khaira said: “I have never supported the ‘Sikh referendum’. Without even asking me about the matter, Dr Balbir Singh issued a statement to the media that action would be initiated against Khaira. With the Akali Dal, Congress and the BJP launching a tirade against me, some AAP leaders also unfortunately fell into the trap.” Earlier, AAP state unit co-convener Dr Balbir Singh had distanced the party from Khaira’s statement, stating it would initiate action against him. Party’s Sunam MLA Aman Arora had also stated it was the leader’s individual stand and not the party’s.

Khaira said: “I had only said that the Union Government should make efforts for the betterment of the Sikhs, who have seen many tragedies. On the basis of this, Congress president Sunil Jakhar even sought my disqualification and an FIR against me.”

Showing a picture of the CM, which he had also tweeted on Saturday, Khaira said: “In 1994, the Amritsar Declaration read by Capt Amarinder Singh at the Darbar Sahib was also about the Sikhs’ right to self-determination, raising the demand for an autonomous state of Punjab – similar to the ‘2020 referendum’. It was read in the presence of Surjit Singh Barnala and Simranjit Singh Mann.”

Showing another document, he said: “In April 1992, the UN’s visiting secretary general was given a memorandum by the Akali Dal leadership under Simranjit Singh Mann. Former CM Parkash Singh Badal was also a signatory.”