Chandigarh, September 25:
In order to resolve the internal differences within Punjab State unit of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a five-member committee has been constituted. This was announced by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, former Leader of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha. The five-members will hold discussions with other members to resolve the differences over autonomy for the state unit and other matters.
The five-members are Kanwar Sandhu, Nazar Singh Mansahia, Baldev Singh, Jagdev Singh (all MLAs) and Suresh Sharma. “The basis of talks, if any, with our party colleagues will be on the basis of the six resolutions passed at the AAP Volunteers Convention at Bathinda on August 2,” Khaira said. He said that despite announcements in the media, none of the seven MLAs with him have been approached so far.
Khaira also said that AAP will hold a “Peoples’ March” from Kotkapura to Behbal Kalan to Bargari on October 7 to press the State Government to ensure justice on the basis of the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report. He added that it was unfortunate that both the Congress Government led by Captain Amarinder Singh and the Shiromani Akali Dal lead by Sukhbir Singh Badal were holding “competitive rallies” to deny justice on issues of religious sacrilege on October 7 in Lambi and Patiala respectively. “We appeal to the people to give both, Congress and SAD, a befitting reply.
Kanwar Sandhu, Spokesman for the Party, released copies of the “Open Letter” that the AAP had written to the Punjab CM demanding a Special Session of Vidhan Sabha to discuss issues of Farmers and Farm Labour, including suicides, debt relief and State Policy for Farmers. The 3-page letter (Copy attached in separate mail) talked of how the Government had backed down from its promises on all these issues. MLA, Nazar Singh, who was a member of the Vidhan Sabha Committee on Farmer Suicides rued the fact that despite their painstaking work for more than six months, the Report and 69 recommendations of the Committee had not even been discussed in the House. He said that the Government should call a Session and present the Action Taken Report on the recommendations.
Sandhu said that their Party had also demanded Compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre for the farmers whose crops had been damaged due to unseasonal rains during the last three days. MLA, Jagdev Singh narrated the heavy damage to the cotton crop due to the rains in the Malwa belt of Punjab. He also demanded a Compensation of Rs 1.25 Lakh to each person whose house was damaged by rain.
