State AAP to reach out to Khaira group

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 10

The state AAP unit said on Friday that it would invite the rebel group led by MLA Sukhpal Khaira to accompany its team to pay homage to Goa liberation movement martyr Karnail Singh Issru at his native village, Issru (Ludhiana), on August 15.

However, AAP will not organise a rally in the village. The party’s decision is apparently aimed at avoiding a confrontation with the Khaira group as it was speculated that the latter may organise a rally at the venue. Every year, various political parties organise rallies at Issru on Independence Day.

“We will visit the martyr’s memorial and offer prayers. We will invite all MLAs and state leaders, who may be with some other group. It is for them to decide,” said Dr Balbir Singh, state co-convener.

Meanwhile, the Khaira group of eight MLAs and other state leaders met Governor VP Singh Badnore. They demanded that the Justice Ranjit Singh (retd) Commission’s probe report on sacrilege and police firing incidents be made public with immediate effect.

They also urged the Governor to call a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to discuss the report and share details of the SIT findings in sacrilege cases.

The group sought the appointment of a special and fast-track court to deal with the sacrilege cases and the Behbal Kalan police firing incident.

Sangrur: Bhagwant Mann, AAP MP, on Friday said he had not yet decided on taking back his resignation as state party convener, adding that he wanted to work for the party without any post. He said he would discuss the issue with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal when called to New Delhi. He listened to the grievances of area residents. — TNS