AAP expels Dr Daljit Singh for ‘questioning’ leadership

Perneet Singh

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Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 16

To quell rebellion in its Punjab unit, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today expelled its Punjab disciplinary committee chairman and state executive member Dr Daljit Singh for allegedly indulging in “anti-party activities”.

A noted eye surgeon, Dr Daljit Singh had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections against BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley and Congress’ Capt Amarinder Singh from Amritsar Lok Sabha seat last year.

Confirming the development, Dr Daljit Singh said: “I have received a communication from Pankaj Gupta, chairman of the party’s disciplinary committee in Delhi. He had earlier issued me a show-cause notice. I had replied that I stood by whatever I had said. What I said was based on facts and it had not harmed the party.”

He maintained his stand that AAP’s state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur and party’s state affairs in charge Sanjay Singh “are out to ruin the party”. He said he would not join any other political party but would continue with his social work. Dr Daljit Singh alleged there was no democracy within the party and “whosoever speaks up is suppressed.”

“There are other political parties too in which leaders have difference of opinion but they co-exist albeit in the form of different groups within the party. However, in AAP, those who don’t agree to the leadership’s view is simply thrown out of the party,” he said while claiming that resentment was increasing within the party.

He alleged people with no identity were being given party posts. He said the party needed to expand its base in Punjab but people “not having clean image are being inducted”. He alleged the party’s leadership was controlling the affairs of its Punjab unit.