Satirist Ghuggi joins Aam Aadmi Party

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 10

After days of speculation, satirist Gurpreet Ghuggi finally joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today.

Speaking on the occasion, he said his conscious forced him to take this path after seeing the plight of the farmers and the common man in the state.

Ghuggi said: “The reports of farmers committing suicide sadden me every day. Drugs, killer roads and apathy of the government, all these issues forced me to join AAP.”

“I have a better and comparatively secure future in films but I want to pay back to the state that made me what I am today,” Ghuggi said, adding that Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann was his inspiration and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s movement motivated him.

Ghuggi today joined the party in the presence of state party affairs incharge Sanjay Singh, state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and national organisation head Durgesh Pathak. He will concentrate on the Majha region.

Ghuggi has remained the brand ambassador of the Punjab Election Commission. He had, on the occasion of National Voters Day on January 25, said he was not interested in joining any political party. Sanjay Singh said Ghuggi had been raising the issue related to Punjab for a long time and his joining AAP would further strengthen the party.

Chhotepur said with his political satires, Ghuggi had always been successful in sending the right message to people and the party would get benefit from his experience.

Bhagwant Mann said he was happy that one of his close associates had joined the party to raise the real issues concerning people from the right platform.

Manpreet’s aide to meet Kejriwal today

Chandigarh: Continuing with its move to induct leaders from other parties, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to rope in Gurpreet Bhatti, then secretary general of the People’s Party of Punjab (PPP). Bhatti, a close aide of Manpreet Badal, had not joined the Congress with him. He is scheduled to meet AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi on Thursday. Confirming the meeting, Bhatti said he would announce his plans after meeting Kejriwal. He alleged since Manpreet abandoned the vision and agenda of the PPP and joined the Congress, he refused to do so. “I have held several meetings with AAP leaders and I have asked them to clarify their position on various issues confronting the state. I need an assurance on the vision of the party,” he said. Bhatti, who was once considered close to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, also remained associated with the Youth Akali Dal for over a decade. — TNS