Punjab AAP leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira today said he still "did not agree" with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's move to tender an apology to SAD's Bikram Singh Majithia.
Kejriwal in March had tendered an apology to SAD leader and former minister Majithia for accusing him of being involved in drugs trade.
"I had said at that time I did not agree with him (Kejriwal) and even today I do not agree with him. Our stand on drugs issue in Punjab continues to remain the same.
"We cannot compromise on the drug issue at all and we will continue with our tirade against the drug mafia," said Khaira, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
Kejriwal's apology had pushed the state unit into a crisis after many Punjab leaders, including Khaira, expressed disappointment and condemned the party's national convener's move.
However, Khaira said, "He (Kejriwal) may have issues because he was probably facing too many cases of defamation and we understand his perspective."
On whether Kejriwal played with the sentiments of people by first raising the drug issue and later seeking an apology, AAP Punjab unit co-president Balbir Singh defended the Delhi chief minister and said the issue here was not Kejriwal's apology, but of drugs.
"His apology was not an issue. It was a tactical move of Kejriwal. We are carrying out a survey in Tarn Taran where several families were destroyed because of drugs," said Balbir.
Kejriwal is expected to visit Punjab in November for the party's delegate convention.
On the by-poll to Shahkot assembly elections, Balbir said the party has shortlisted names of six to seven candidates whose names were proposed by party volunteers.
On Sangrur MP and AAP leader Bhagwant Mann, Balbir said they were persuading him to come back as the party needed him.
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