Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, party leader Rahul Gandhi, AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and other leaders are seen at the opposition meeting in Bengaluru on July 17, 2023. (Pic/PTI)
The issue of ‘vendetta politics’ allegedly launched against them by the AAP government was raised during a meeting of senior state Congress leaders in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
Congress has tied up with 25 other parties including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), the Punjab unit of the party is indecisive about the alliance and the senior leadership of the state is upset with the move as it is in direct conflict with the Bhagwant Mann government.
The formation of the United Front has angered the senior Congress leadership, which plans to take up the issue with the party high command again.
At a meeting of senior state Congress leaders in Chandigarh on Wednesday, many of them once again raised the “politics of vendetta” which they claimed has been launched against them by the AAP government. In the meeting, it was resolved to meet the central leadership again on this issue. “Clarity” on the level of “understanding” between Congress and AAP ahead of 2024 parliamentary elections.
“It is fine to oppose the BJP ordinance on Central Service Rules but we want to make it clear to the party high command that anything beyond this is not acceptable. The AAP government is going after our senior leaders, filing false cases against them and on the other hand, a grand alliance with the party at the central level is not a good sign for the state unit. “We need more clarification from the high command,” remarked a senior party leader.
The meeting was attended by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amarinder Singh Raja Waring, Leader of Opposition Pratap Bajwa, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa and other senior leaders. It was decided that the PPCC chief and the Leader of the Opposition would meet central leaders on the issue. “There was a broad consensus on opposing any tie-up with the AAP, apart from supporting the central ordinance,” said a leader.
Waring said the fight against AAP over political vendetta against Congress leaders will continue. Bajwa alleged, “Despite former deputy CM OP Soni being a patient, vigilance officers were behaving inhumanely.” There is law and procedure to handle the investigation.”
Annoyed at the party’s “shaking hands” with AAP at the national level, state leaders regretted that it would have consequences at the state level. “The high command has to realize that AAP in Punjab is trying to finish the Congress by targeting its leadership. This is something the central leaders need to take note of,” remarked a senior leader present at the meeting.
