Chhotepur begins march from Gurdaspur

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, September 6

Sucha Singh Chhotepur put his political rivals on notice by holding an impressive “Parivartan Yatra” at his home town here today.

Amid humid weather, hundreds of workers packed the venue, while an equal number stood outside.

Parallels were drawn with the rally presided over by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on July 4 when a decent crowd had gathered at the same venue.

“Around 90 per cent of the workers gathered today were present when the Delhi CM addressed the gathering. Today’s proceedings are indeed a setback for AAP in this district, a known stronghold of Chhotepur. Even before he joined AAP, just ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Chhotepur remained busy working with the masses,” said Amandeep Gill, former AAP Gurdaspur zonal in-charge.

Though Chhotepur did not make any public announcement to float a political outfit, his loyalist claimed a decision had been taken. “The new party may be announced on the last day of the yatra. In all likelihood, it will be named AAP Punjab. Symbolically and otherwise too the name in itself points towards a confrontation between AAP Delhi leaders and Punjab leaders. Discussions have already been held among top leaders who have joined hands with Chhotepur or are likely to support him,” said a senior leader.

Workers had come from as far as Batala and Pathankot.

Chhotepur said: “I am not the one to take things lying down. I am a born fighter and everybody, including Kejriwal, knows this. I have done nothing wrong. All I ask is to make the clip showing me taking money public. Let the people then decide.”