Rift in AAP, six MLAs want Khaira to quit

Chandigarh, Six AAP MLAs have opined that Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, who is facing allegations of links with a convicted drug smuggler, should quit on moral grounds.
The party, however, had claimed in a statement yesterday that the entire rank and file, including the 20 MLAs, was with Khaira.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Sarvjit Kaur Manuke and Talwandi Sabo legislator Baljinder Kaur are among those who have asked him to put him in his papers — in keeping with the party’s political ethos.
Four others, including deputy state convener Aman Arora, have raised the demand on party fora. However, the other MLAs want all party leaders and workers to back Khaira, claiming that he is being targeted because he has been confronting the Congress and the Akalis on several issues.
Sources said the difference of opinion emerged last evening in the WhatsApp group of the MLAs. It is learnt that Mansa MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia asked all legislators in the group their opinion on the Khaira issue. Citing party principles, some of them said he should resign.
Arora reportedly said in the group chat that the party could not tolerate the drug taint as three of its top leaders were facing defamation cases over making such allegations against rivals. Sources said he had demanded Khaira’s resignation on the plea that AAP should take an ethical stand on such issues, unlike other parties, and set an example. When contacted, Arora declined to comment on the matter.
Party sources said some office-bearers argued that the phone calls between Khaira and a drug smuggler were exchanged when the latter was on the run. Thus, the Leader of the Opposition should come clean on this count, they said.
Dakha MLA and advocate HS Phoolka showed solidarity with Khaira in the Whatsapp group, but advised that the proposed press statement, which seemed to question the role of the court concerned, should be edited.
Baljinder Kaur, who was earlier a contender for the post of Leader of the Opposition, told The Tribune today, “We can’t have double standards. He must resign and take the moral high ground. If his name is cleared, his position in the party should be restored. This is the party ethos and we all abide by it.”
Manuke said she as well as the party had zero tolerance to drug smuggling. “I will not support even a family member over such charges, but will fight for justice if he or she is innocent. We have sympathy with him, but his continuation in office is against the party ideology,” she said. Later in the evening, she amended her statement, saying that the party leadership should decide on the resignation.
One of the six MLAs disassociated himself from the statement expressing solidarity with Khaira. Wishing not to be quoted, he said the matter was sub judice and giving a political colour to the controversy amounted to being disrespectful to the law.