Sukhbir should be made 'comedy' minister: AAP

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Last Updated : Aug 13 2016 | 8:42 PM IST
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today took a dig at Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, saying he should be made a "Comedy" minister instead of state Home minister for his "irresponsible" statements.
AAP leader and in-charge of Punjab affairs, Sanjay Singh also asked Sukhbir to reveal the names of those leaders who are facing a threat from Pakistan's spy agency ISI.
"The kind of statements we are getting to hear from Sukhbir Badal in past few days, he should be made comedy minister instead of handling Home portfolio," Singh told reporters here today.
He was referring to Sukhbir's statement in which Deputy CM had said Pakistan's ISI has "big plans" to destablise the state by targeting important leaders there.
"Sukhbir should inform who are the leaders which are under ISI's radar," he said.
"Earlier, he (Sukhbir) was saying that AAP was getting funds from pro-Khalistan people, then he said AAP had links with Naxals, ISIS and now he is making serious and worrisome statement, saying ISI plans to attack leaders in Punjab," Singh said.
He asked Sukhbir whether ISI was behind the attack of Mata Chand Kaur, Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale and RSS leader Jagdish Gagneja.
"If AAP was getting funds from pro-Khalistan people then he should make this report public and if anybody is involved in any such thing, he should be put behind bars. Otherwise, he should stop making irresponsible statements," Singh said.
He expressed fear that Deputy CM could carry out attack on AAP leaders in coming days for which he ostensibly wanted to blame ISI.
"Are you trying to make ground for attacking any big leader," Singh asked Badal.
Earlier, AAP had accused Badal of raising the "bogey" of ISI threat in Punjab to "terrorise" the people to create fear and panic, and his "evil designs" was "exposed" by none other than his father Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who categorically ruled out any such threat.
Asked when Navjot Singh Sidhu will join AAP, Sanjay said this question should be posed to Sidhu. "We have welcomed him when he announced the decision (to resign from Rajya Sabha). It is now up to him to make decision," said Singh.
Responding to query on opposition to some of names of candidates announced for Punjab polls, Sanjay said, "there is no consideration going on changing the names. There will be no change in candidates."
To a query, AAP Punjab Convener and party's senior leader Sucha Singh Chhotepur, said, "he will raise this issue within in the party and will also meet Arvind Kejriwal."
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Meanwhile, wife and daughter of Akali leader and minister Captain Kanwaljit Singh today joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Apart from Singh's wife Sarabjit Kaur and daughter Manpreet Kaur, Punjabi singer Singer Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, senior Akali leader and former minister Captain Balbir Singh Bath and Chief of Secular Lok Raj Party Harchand Singh Barsat joined AAP.
Welcoming them, party's Punjab in-charge Sanjay Singh, AAP state convenor, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Faridkot MP Sadhu Singh said that the time was ripe and all Punjabis should raise their voice against the misrule of Akalis.
Sanjay said late Captain Kanwaljit Singh, Captain Balbir Singh Bath, Harchand Singh Barsat and Singer Sukhwinder Sukhi have contributed a lot for the welfare of people and their joining AAP would definitely boost the party's prospects in the 2017 Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, welcoming the decision of Punjab and Haryana High court decision regarding scraping the appointment of Chief Parliamentary Secretaries of Punjab, Sanjay Singh said that the appointment was illegal and Badal Government "wasted" the money to please his party men.
He demanded that the money spent on the facilities given to CPSs should be recovered from them and deposit in the state exchequer.
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First Published: Aug 13 2016 | 8:42 PM IST

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