Ask Kejriwal also to pay expenses: Phoolka to Mann

Ludhiana, October 11

A day after AAP state convener Bhagwant Mann raised a demand that the expenses for bypoll be charged from those who quit without completing their term, former AAP MLA and senior advocate HS Phoolka has replied, “I am ready to pay expenses. Mann should also ask Kejriwal to pay expenses.”

“I am ready to pay expenditure on bypoll and will welcome if the Election Commission takes such a decision. I demand from Mann that he should also ask Arvind Kejriwal to pay such expenses because he had resigned as the Delhi CM following which Vidhan Sabha elections were held again,” he said.

Phoolka questioned, “Mann himself was an MP when he contested the Assembly poll from Jalalabad in 2017. Was he unaware of such expenses?”

According to Phoolka, he has spent more than Rs 1 crore from his personal sources for a free mobile dispensary and smart classrooms in Dakha constituency.

“If the expenses on bypolls are above Rs 1 crore, I am ready to spend the remaining amount for the development of Dakha,” he further said.

Phoolka said he had resigned as an MLA last year as the state government had failed to initiate action in sacrilege cases. Instead of raising the sacrilege issue, “leaders like Mann have stuck in a trap of the SAD, which diverts their attention towards Phoolka’s resignation.” —TNS