Amid its two MPs from Punjab openly criticising party functioning, Aam Aadmi Party state Convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur today asked them to desist from making such statements, saying party discipline is uppermost.
"Party is supreme and will ever remain so and the party discipline is uppermost and which cannot be compromised at any cost," Chhotepur said in a statement issued here.
He was referring to recent statements of Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, MPs from Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib respectively, in the media.
The two MPs had attacked party's Punjab observer Sanjay Singh and state convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur for not consulting them while restructuring of party's state unit.
They had also blamed them for causing factionalism within the state unit, with Gandhi reportedly accusing AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal of acting like a dictator.
Chhotepur said lately the MPs had been openly criticizing the senior leadership responsible for party organization in the press using "very harsh" and "inappropriate" language.
Chhotepur said he would like the MPs to realize that they were "nothing" before the party adopted them.
"Punjabi's love for AAP and dissatisfaction with the ruling Akali-BJP combine and hatred for failed Congress gave them the win and made them MPs," he said.
Cautioning them, Chhotepur said when one is in the party then they should not harm its interests at such a crucial juncture by raising issues which are meant only for in-house discussions.
He said the party's senior leadership, especially Kejriwal, have always heard their grievances intently and provided appropriate solutions every time.
"When the time is now...For consolidation of the party's rank and file in Punjab, these two MPs should not be indulging in wild allegations and mud-slinging especially against and at persons who are committed to the cause of the party...As they have experience in white-washing all kinds of opposition as they did in Delhi Assembly elections by winning 67 out of 70 seats," Chhotepur said.
"The time is now and here to get together and close our ranks to present a cohesive front and not for internal squabbles," he said.
