Kejriwal should learn to respect elected public representatives: Harinder Singh Khalsa

"I had myself sent an SMS to Kejriwal saying Sanjay Singh is out to ruin Punjab. He should not repose on his. He should learn to respect the elected representatives," Harinder Singh Khalsa said.

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Harinder Singh Khalsa
Harinder Singh Khalsa

After the Aam Aadmi Party high command removed the party's Punjab disciplinary panel chief Dr Daljit Singh, three party MPs from Punjab lashed out at Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab in-charge Sanjay Singh for ignoring the state executive. Manjeet Sehgal spoke to party's Fatehgarh Sahib MP Harinder Singh Khalsa.

Mail Today: The AAP party high command is annoyed with you and other MPs...

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Harinder Singh Khalsa: We were shocked to hear the word party high command in AAP. This is what we were opposing when the party was formed. This has negated the things and will make AAP similar to other political parties where the party high commands rule the rest.

Mail Today:
Are you happy with the party high command or the developments which took place recently?

Harinder Singh Khalsa: All the four are unhappy. They are not making their resentment public. They are not publicly declaring it. Even Bhagwant Mann is not happy, but every individual has his own style of exhibiting the reaction.

Mail Today:
Are you resenting the appointment of Sucha Singh Chotepur?

Harinder Singh Khalsa: We are not happy with too much interference of Delhiwala's in Punjab's affairs. This is what was happening in Congress and they suffered because of it. Our party talks about economy, Swaraj and democracy, but now they are dictating terms to us which we don't like. We are elected representatives of people. 4 of us got the mandate of the people. 9 candidates out of 13 had got very respectable share of votes. Even Dr Daljit Singh is unhappy. Now they say that we are not capable of taking decisions. We don't like it.

Mail Today: Are you against Punjab convenor Sucha Singh Chotepur?

Harinder Singh Khalsa:
We were not happy with the working of Sucha Singh Chotepur. If you analyse the conduct of his whole life, he has been under the scanner all the time. We did not want him to become a convenor. Anyway, he became convenor. We accepted that, but the way he conducted the meetings was not acceptable.

Mail Today: What was the reaction in Delhi?

Harinder Singh Khalsa: We informed Delhi also but Kejriwal said, Hum jayenge toh sab theek ho jayega (Everything will be fine once I come). That's not the way one runs a party. What is this? Humare saath Punjab ki baat naa karo (Do not discuss Punjab with us). What is this?

Mail Today: The party recently restructured the Punjab unit. Are you happy?

Harinder Singh Khalsa: While restructuring the Punjab unit they did not consult us, the members of Parliament. Scores of people had come from Delhi. They started ransacking the villages of Punjab. It is like hoards of invaders coming.

Mail Today: What according to you is the future of AAP in Punjab now?

Harinder Singh Khalsa: If this continues, and the malaise is not checked, I would call it very grim and it will be a betrayal of the masses because they look up to AAP. Today, I had a meeting with all the volunteers of my 9 assembly constituencies. They were all upset and said how will they face the people now.

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Mail Today: Do you think Arvind Kejriwal is centralising power and is dictating terms?

Harinder Singh Khalsa:
I don't know. I would not like to make a statement which is irresponsible. I will not comment. That will be a hasty conclusion. But I would only say that Kejriwal should check his coterie. I had myself sent an SMS to Kejriwal saying Sanjay Singh is out to ruin Punjab. He should not repose on his. He should learn to respect the elected representatives.

Mail Today: What is your future plan of action?

Harinder Singh Khalsa: We will act according to the situation.