Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, had said before the two-day special session that 32 MLAs of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are in touch with him, who want to switch sides and join the Congress. He did not stop there, but he also said that along with the MLAs, some ministers are also in touch with him. When asked about the truth in this statement, he said that I have 40 years of experience in politics, I have not made any statement till date which has no basis and all political parties know that if I am making this statement, then there is a big basis behind it. He said that just as the advance tickets for the show of famous singer Daljit Dosanjh to be held next year have been booked, similarly we have advance booking of Aam Aadmi Party MLAs as well, he said that I can only tell the number, not the name of any MLA and this number may increase in the coming days. Apart from this, he said that the BJP is in constant touch with the Punjab Chief Minister through Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu and he claimed that Bittu talks to the Chief Minister three to four times. He said that just as the Aam Aadmi Party MLAs are in touch with me, they are also in touch with the BJP.
On the other hand, Congress MLA Pargat Singh had said that he was very sorry that the Punjab government was not ready to hold a long session. He said that the AAP would soon replace Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
After this statement of Bajwa, Aam Aadmi Party President Aman Arora countered and said that first of all, there is no truth in the statement of Partap Singh Bajwa, but even if it is true, then Partap Singh Bajwa cannot form the government by mixing 32 MLAs with him, nor is there any threat to our government. He said that he definitely claims and challenges that Partap Singh Bajwa himself is in touch with the BJP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi should ask whom Partap Singh Bajwa has met in Bengaluru in the past few days. He said that Partap Singh Bajwa should prove his statement or stop making such statements every day. He said that he should keep his Congress MLAs in touch and it would be better if he kept his brother in touch who joined the BJP.
Talking to reporters, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Saund said that the Aam Aadmi Party’s former MLA is standing with Arvind Kejriwal and there is no truth in the statements that Partap Singh Bajwa is making, but more than half of the Congress MLAs are in touch with the BJP and can leave the Congress and join the BJP at any time. Therefore, Bajwa should worry about his MLAs. He claimed that in the coming time, Partap Singh Bajwa himself will leave the Congress and join the BJP.
There is no doubt that the AAP MLAs are disappointed and divided into two groups due to the bitterness of Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Disappointment is spreading among Punjabis against the AAP government due to not taking any stand in the interest of Punjab.
Mr. Bajwa is a senior leader of the Punjab Congress, has served in many responsible positions and at present he is also occupying the responsible position of the Leader of the Opposition. He has every right to make a statement or remain silent on any political or non-political matter, but making absurd statements does not achieve anything for any party or leader, rather it only further tarnishes the political culture of Punjab. Even if his claim is accepted as true, the Congress party will not be able to form the government in Punjab. Even if members of other parties and independent MLAs join them, they will have to break four or five more MLAs to gather the required majority to form the government. On the other hand, the leaders of the ruling party also get irritated by such claims and start making counter-claims, which does not increase the prestige of the government but only lowers the level of political dialogue in Punjab. At present, Indian nationals who have reached America illegally or without documents are being loaded into military planes and sent back to their homeland. If about one million youths from abroad come to Punjab, what will the government do to provide them with employment? If employment is not provided, will they not join the activities of gangsters? Will they not drown in drugs? Apart from this, a series of suicides by farmers and laborers is going on in Punjab. The vicious circle of drugs is still swallowing the lives of our youth. Apart from these, the problem of unemployment is taking a terrible shape. The elected representatives and leaders of Punjabis need to gather their heads together in the sessions of the Vidhan Sabha and brainstorm and introspect as to how they can lead Punjab in this time of crisis? Bajwa’s rhetoric is meaningless and has no claim to the interests of Punjab.
