AAP divided, yet makes its presence felt in House

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 27

The rebel AAP MLAs, led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, on Monday remained defiant even as the Harpal Cheema group had a victory of sorts when it forced the Speaker to not expunge names of Congress leaders named by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh as “accused in the 1984 riots”.

It is rare for the Opposition to prevail upon the Speaker and get its demand accepted. The victory was the bright point for the party even as the Khaira group remained indifferent. Khaira and his supporters raised issues separately and even staged a walkout when Leader of Oppsotion Harpal Cheema got up to speak. The two MLAs of the Lok Insaf Party (LIP), which had an alliance with AAP earlier, joined the Khaira group in the walkout. Khaira returned the favour when he supported LIP MLA Balwinder Singh Bains who was being cornered by Congress MLAs.

However, the Khaira group did not join other AAP MLAs when they were led by Cheema to protest in the well of the House on the riots issue.

Phoolka, who has been fighting cases of riot victims, even jumped aggressively in the well of the House, and asked the Khaira group to join him in protest against the Speaker’s announcement to expunge names of Congress leaders “involved” in the 1984 riots. The Khaira group, however, refused to budge.

The controversy began when Akali MLA Bikram Singh Majithia drew Speaker’s attention on the recent statement of AICC president Rahul Gandhi saying that the Congress was not involved in the riots. Majithia termed it a false claim as a number of Congress leaders were facing court cases for their “involvement”.

Responding to the allegations, the CM said he had visited Delhi immediately after the riots and some of the victims named some Congress leaders. He insisted that the leaders might be involved in their individual capacity, but it was wrong to blame the Congress party.

As Akalis and AAP MLAs took on the CM, the Speaker directed the names of “accused” Congress leaders be expunged. Phoolka demanded that the names be retained. When the Speaker refused to relent, Phoolka went to the well of the House, raised slogans and jumped aggressively demanding retention of the names. While Cheema and his MLAs joined him, the Khaira group didn’t. Phoolka walked up to them and asked them to join, but in vain.

As Phoolka continued his aggressive approach, the CM intervened in the pandemonium, saying he had been taking the names since long and those might be retained. The pandemonium ended with the Speaker accepting the demand of not expunging the names as stated by the CM.

Earlier, when the Khaira group along with LIP MLAs staged a boycott on the issue of seeking a discussion on sharing river waters, Cheema and his 11 MLAs did not join them.

On the sidelines

Khaira for preserving heritage buildings

The Tribune report on attempts to convert a heritage site — Sangrur’s Maharaja Ranbir Club — into a bar was flagged in the Assembly by Sukhpal Khaira, head of the rebel group of AAP MLAs. He demanded rollback of the order. Khaira and his group said heritage sites should be protected.

AAP under minority threat

The rift between AAP groups at one time threatened the party's position as the main opposition party in the Assembly. When the Khaira group of eight MLAs staged a walkout, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra sought the Speaker's attention and claimed that the Leader of the Opposition was in minority. However, the Speaker said the LoP had majority of the MLAs seated with him.

Accusations come full circle

Accusations flew thick and fast in the House on Monday. Former minister Parminder Dhindsa accused Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu of using derogatory words about SAD chief Sukhbir Badal's mother and demanded an apology. AAP MLA Sukhpal Khaira pointed out that Sukhbir had used derogatory words against his (Khaira's) brother-in-law Justice Ranjit Singh (retd). To this, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra rapped Khaira for having used casteist remarks against his Cabinet colleague Chanjit Singh Channi.

Capt chides Majithia

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh hit back at Akali leaders when they questioned his claims on the 1984 riots. The CM told Bikram Singh Majithia that he was only eight years old when the riots took place. When Majithia protested, the CM took out a piece of paper from his pocket and announced that the Akali leader was born in 1976.