AAP urges Chhotepur, other leaders to return

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 18

State Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) co-president Aman Arora today urged estranged AAP leaders, including former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, to return to the party fold.

Addressing mediapersons after a meeting with party volunteers, Arora said Chhotepur’s expulsion was avoidable. “His ouster was one of the major reasons for our debacle in the Assembly elections. He will be welcomed back in the party. We will try to persuade all leaders who were expelled or have quit AAP to come back,” he said.

On the removal of Gurpreet Singh Waraich as the state convener, Arora said the decision was taken after a one-on-one interaction between around 70 senior party leaders from Punjab and Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi.

He added that Waraich was more inclined towards a career in films. “I also had a meeting with Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Waraich before the decision was taken. Waraich said he joined the party as a volunteer and would be ready to work as one,” Arora said.

Later, talking to The Tribune on the phone, Arora said initiating a dialogue with party rebels, including MPs Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, would strengthen the party.

Clear air about Doda’s jail meet: Phoolka

Chandigarh: Leader of Opposition HS Phoolka on Thursday demanded an explanation from Excise and Taxation Minister Manpreet Singh Badal about a meeting between liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda and Ferozepur Divisional Excise and Taxation Commissioner (DETC) Jaswinder Singh in an Amritsar jail on Wednesday. “The Akalis lost the Assembly elections, but their closeness with Congress leaders is helping them to run their business from jails,” he said. Phoolka demanded that Doda be kept under round-the-clock surveillance and that no one be allowed to meet him without court’s permission. TNS