NRI leaders sever ties with AAP

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 8

Days after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) suspended rebel MLAs Sukhpal Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu, 112 NRI AAP leaders have severed ties with the party through a joint letter to the convener, Arvind Kejriwal.

The NRIs have accused Kejriwal and his leaders of ruining the party by playing with the sentiments of Punjabis and NRIs abroad. They have even alleged that the party misappropriated millions of dollars the NRIs had sent to it in the hope that it would bring a positive change in Punjab.

Many NRI leaders had resigned from their posts after the removal of Khaira as Leader of Opposition. Now, they have left the party.

Reacting to the letter, Leader of Opposition Harpal Cheema said the move seemed to be planted by rebel MLAs. “We do not want to indulge in the game of letters. Its content and tone states for itself the motive behind the move,” he said, claiming that the AAP NRI wing was intact and the party had huge support abroad.

Meanwhile, Kanwar Sandhu has posted a video message on social media in defence of the letter. He said: “The party has ignored several messages earlier about the decisions that have weakened the party. The letter is a message from the heart of those people who gave away so much for the party. AAP cannot return the favour, but at least it should take the issues raised by the NRIs seriously.”

Those who signed the letter included 20 NRIs from the US, 36 Canada, 24 Europe and 13 UAE, 13 Australia and six New Zealand.

They strongly-worded letter said Kejriwal took decisions on his own against anyone who questioned him or whose stature grew taller. They cited the action against Sucha Singh Chhotepur, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi, Khaira and Sandhu. The NRIs alleged that though these leaders were victimised, others including MP Bhagwant Mann and Delhi leaders Durgesh Pathak and Sanjay Singh, were rewarded.