AAP disassociates from Khaira's referendum remark

The Aam Aadmi Party today disassociated itself from remarks by its leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira after political parties slammed him for supporting a referendum to let Sikhs decide whether they want to secede from India.

The AAP said it did not directly or indirectly support Referendum 2020, allegedly promoted by a Canada-based Sikh organisation.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, his Congress party and the Bharatiya Janata Party had lashed at Khaira, who is Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, for backing a proposed referendum.

The ruling Congress in the state had asked AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal to make his stand clear and sack Khaira if he did not agree with his views.

Even while backing "Referendum 2020", Khaira maintained that he stood for India's unity.

The AAP joint statement was issued by the party's Punjab co-president Balbir Singh, Majha zone president Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal and Malwa zone leaders Narinder Singh Sidhu, Gurditt Singh Sekhon and Dalbir Singh Dhillon.

It said the party believed totally in the Constitution and did not support any activity against the unity and the federal structure of the country.

They said Khaira's statement could be his personal view and the party will seek a clarification from him.

Yesterday, Khaira said, "I support the Sikh Referendum 2020 movement as Sikhs have the right to demand justice against atrocities suffered by them.

Facing a barrage of criticism, he responded to Chief Minister today in a tweet, claiming that Amarinder Singh had not got his facts right.

"I am surprised a leader of your level is tweeting against me without checking his facts. I am not a votary of 2020 but I don't hesitate to point out a consistent policy of discrimination against Sikhs by central governments! Be it attack on Darbar Sahib, genocide of Sikhs leading to 2020," he tweeted.

In a statement, Amarinder Singh said Khaira seemed to be indulging in political antics without any sense of the history of Punjab or any realisation of the possible consequences of his statement.

In a joint statement, other Congress leaders, including Ramanjit Singh Sikki, Harminder Singh Gill and Hardev Singh Laddi, sought a clarification from Arvind Kejriwal on whether he subscribed to Khaira's stand.

"You must sack Khaira from the party and if you do not do that it will amount to your consent and concurrence to the anti-national designs of Khaira," they said.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia termed Khaira's statement a "proof of the divisive politics played by the AAP."