AAP revokes 23 expulsions; state leadership ‘hurt’

Jalandhar/Amritsar, The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today revoked the expulsion of its 23 leaders from Punjab, in a development that invited sharp reactions from a section of the leadership in the state.Sanjay Singh, AAP political affairs committee member and national spokesman, sent an e-mail to Punjab convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur informing him that “the expulsions stood cancelled”.Sanjay Singh’s statement, also posted on Chhotepur’s Facebook account late on Thursday evening, kicked up a storm among the state leadership with a majority of them expressing disbelief. Some even termed it as a statement sent from a “fake account”.Talking to The Tribune, Sanjay Singh said, “Barring three leaders, we have revoked all expulsions that were ordered recently. The decision has been taken since the expulsions took place without the consent of the state committee.”Sanjay Singh said Chhotepur had approached against the expulsions today. He, however, said the party stood its ground on the expulsions of Prof Manjit Singh, Punjab unit’s former spokesman, and Jyoti Mann and Bhai Baldeep Singh, MP candidates from Jalandhar and Khadoor Sahib. “They were expelled due to anti-party activities and will continue to remain out of the party,” he said.The decision came as a surprise for the state leadership. Dr Daljit Singh, member of AAP’s state disciplinary committee, said, “Neither a formal announcement was made nor we were informed. I am unaware what led the party to take this sudden decision.”Pranab Rai, another disciplinary panel member, said, “The party cadre was not informed about the decision. Everybody got to know from the Facebook account of the AAP’s state convener. Ideally, the decision should have been announced by our committee.”The statement posted on Chhotepur’s account read, “It has come to our notice that 23 committee members of the party in Punjab have been removed illegally. The charges against some of them are yet to be established. This decision stands cancelled, null and void. All these 23 members will work in their respective positions till further information.” Among those reinstated are Harinder Singh and Narinder Walia (Amritsar), Hardeep Singh Kingra (Faridkot), Col (retd) JS Gill (Ludhiana), Ajay Sharma (Moga), Lt Col (retd) Ashok Dogra (Pathankot), Jasvir Singh Dhaliwal and Nirmal Singh (Mohali), Dr Kashmir Singh (Nawanshahr), Col (retd) Baldev Singh and Iqbal Singh (Hoshiarpur).