The Aam Admi Party (AAP) has once again come out with its hideous anti-India and pro-Khalistan agenda. Senior AAP leader and the leader of opposition in Punjab, Sukhpal Singh Khaira has openly extended support to Khalistani hardliners who are demanding a referendum on Khalistan in 2020.
The AAP hardliner stated, “Those demanding a referendum are within their right. The injustice meted out to Sikhs during the last 34 years has compelled people to make a demand like this. You give justice to anti-Sikh riot victims you will come to know that the justice exists in India. We have nothing to do with referendum. But can you stop people living in independent countries? Their sentiments were hurt so whatever they are doing, they are doing within their rights.”
AAP seems to think that attacking the sovereignty and integrity of India is within the rights of extremist sections of a particular community. Since, the AAP is fighting for survival it is going to any extent in order to destabilise Punjab and gain political power. However, the ramifications of instigating Khalistani militancy are going to harm the state’s interests in a very bad way.
Khaira and AAP have been facing extensive backlash at the hands of Captain Amarinder Singh and the BJP-Akali combine for such objectionable and seditious remarks. Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh condemned Khaira unequivocally for “backing secessionism” and stated that Khaira seems to be indulging in political antics without any sense of Punjab’s history and without realising the possible consequences of his remarks. Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia called Khaira’s statement “proof of the divisive politics played by AAP”. After being called out for his secessionist comments from all sides, the pro-Khalistan AAP leader came out double speaking in order to evade trouble. Khaira tweeted that though he is not a votary of 2020, but he doesn’t hesitate in pointing out discriminatory policies against Sikhs by the central governments. One cannot understand what discriminatory policies he is talking about. It is a fact that Sikhs are one of the most prosperous communities in India. Sikhs are the second richest Indian community with only Jains being wealthier than Sikhs. How could the Sikhs have been economically strong had the government discriminated against the community? In fact, Punjab has always had a Sikh chief minister even though there are a sizeable number of Hindus in Punjab. This goes on to show that Sikhs are not only economically sound but also politically and socially powerful. Khaira’s statements reek of bigotry and religious fundamentalism and his attempt at defending is naive and baseless.
This is not for the first time that AAP and Kejriwal have come under the scanner for their Khalistani connections. Before the Punjab polls last year, AAP-Khalistan links had been exposed completely even as Kejriwal stayed at the house of an alleged Khalistani terrorist. At that time, he got embroiled in a massive controversy over staying at Khalistan Liberation Front (KLF) activist Gurwinder Singh’s house during his Punjab visit. Gurwinder Singh had been jailed in the past in cases relating to murder and other heinous crimes. However, he was later acquitted and went to England. It has been alleged that he has been working for KLF from England. After this, Khalistani links of the Kejriwal led party were again exposed with allegations of election funding from the hardliner Sikh groups. Photos also emerged of ISYF (banned terror organisation) chief, Gurdial Singh campaigning for the AAP before the Punjab polls.
AAP leadership has remained silent about the entire controversy. This can be taken as tacit consent on the part of AAP and its leadership to use Khalistani extremism and terrorism for political purposes in Punjab. They are literally playing with fire and one hopes that extremist elements do not occupy the mainstream due to such objectionable political steps taken by the AAP.
