Phoolka’s exit will harm AAP in state:Dr Gandhi

Patiala, Suspended AAP MPs Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Khalsa today said they were not ready to buy the argument given by advocate HS Phoolka that he was resigning from all posts of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as he wanted to give undivided attention to the 1984 riot cases.
They claimed the reasons were much deeper than what appeared.
Dr Gandhi said Phoolka had been fighting these cases for three decades now and nothing of great significance had come up on the matter of late for which he needed to resign from the party.
He said Phoolka was a mature person and this certainly could not be the only reason behind his resignation.
“He announced his resignation at a stage when there is ideological clash in the party. Leaving the partyat this stage could be damaging to all. He has been missing from Punjab politics for six months, not making any political statements over significant issues that have kept the party’s state unit on its toes. “He has even distanced himself from all party activities, including the party’s much-hyped Punjab Joro campaign, which is something beyond my understanding. Only time will tell as to what were the exact reasons for his leaving the party,” said Dr Gandhi.
‘Kejri a businessman’
Khalsa went a step further saying that Phoolka had finally realised that his dedication had been misplaced and that he was not being given much significance in the party.
Lashing out at party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, Khalsa said Kejriwal had achieved what he alwayswanted.
“Kejriwal is a businessman who has set up AAP brand. He now knows that it is in demand. Therefore, he is now selling its franchises in different states. In Punjab, Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann has purchased the franchise at the cost of his self-respect. This is what we could not do because our self-respect is all that matters to us. Kejriwal always wanted to ruin Punjab leadership so that he could nominate his own people because ‘jhadoo’ (broom) was selling,” he alleged.
Khalsa said: “Had Phoolka raised his voice along with us when the Delhi leadership was messing up the state unit, we together could have made a difference, but I am glad he has finally understood the true state of things.”