Khaira defends Chhotepur, says conspiracy cannot be ruled out

Aparna Banerji

Jalandhar, August 28

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira defended Punjab unit’s dismissed convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur saying that “a conspiracy against him could not be ruled out".

The leader — who Chhotepur named as one of the people who supported him — said the party’s decision to sack the leader had shaken AAP’s volunteers in the state as well as its supporters abroad.

He also asked the party to reconsider candidates for some of the assembly seats "for the sake of disappointed party workers”.  

However, he dismissed Chhotepur’s claims that Kejriwal was “anti-Sikh” and allegations from some quarters that the party’s national convener was an outsider, although he admitted that the AAP’s central leadership should to allow Punjab’s unit to have a greater say in the party’s state affairs. 

Khaira’s statement comes days after AAP suspended Chhotepur from the position of Punjab convener until a committee investigated allegations that he had accepted a “bribe” from a volunteer after a "sting" video surfaced.

Chhotepur has denied any wrongdoing and has accused AAP leaders Durgesh Pathak and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia of being behind the video.