AAP MLA HS Phoolka blames Army Chief for the Amritsar blast

In what can only be described as an irresponsible, controversial and shameful statement, AAP MLA HS Phoolka suggested that the Army Chief could have orchestrated the attack in Amritsar yesterday. In a tragic incident that struck Amritsar yesterday, two assailants threw grenades at the Nirankari Bhawan which resulted in the death of 3 people while 20 others were injured. While this attack, possibly carried out by terrorists, left everyone in a state of shock, the AAP legislator stooped to a new low, even in view of the miserable standards that AAP maintains in its public discourse.

HS Phoolka said, “Army Chief came and made a statement. To prove his statement, he could have orchestrated the attack. This matter should be looked into. Did govt do it (attack)? Did the earlier govt do it now? It is wrong to repeatedly say that Punjab’s atmosphere is not good. We must get to the root of it. Govt must get to the root of it. Those who made false statements about Maur blast, what action has been taken against them? What action has been taken against him? Punjab is a sensitive state. One must not make statements without facts. One must not make accusations. Get to the root of it – who did it? Why and how was it done? It’s very important.”

It is probably for the first time that a legislator went on to directly insinuate the Army Chief only in order to score political brownie points. This statement is an outright insult of the Army Chief who leads an institution that is highly respected across the length and breadth of the nation. One must understand that this statement not only drags the Army chief into political blame game but also does something that can further enrage the radical elements within Punjab. Even the Punjab CM said that ISIS, with the help of Khalistani groups, could have carried out this attack. Earlier, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said that attempts were being made to revive insurgency in Punjab and if early action is not taken, it will be too late. This goes on to show that there is a constant threat of radicalism and revival of insurgency in Punjab. In that backdrop, the attack on Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar yesterday becomes a very sensitive issue. At such a time, HS Phoolka’s statement could further enrage the radical elements and embolden them in their ulterior motives.

This is not for the first time that an irresponsible and shameful statement has been made about the Army Chief by an Opposition leader or a so called intellectual who, out of his political ambitions, does not seem to care much about the dignity and pride of the Army. Last year, Congress leader Sandeep Dikhsit went on to make a bizarre remark that the Army chief speaks like a ‘sadak ka gunda’. Even though he apologised for his condemnable statement later on, it went on to show how the opposition does not spare even the Army Chief while indulging in cheap political tactics. Self-acclaimed scholar, Ramachandra Guha, whose political biases and prejudices are not hidden from anyone, also went on to author a controversial column in which he argued that Army Chief Bipin Rawat should speak less in public. It is atrocious and disgusting how a self-acclaimed intellectual assumes that he has the right to determine about how much the Army Chief should speak in public. These Lutyens’ intellectuals must realise that the Indian Army is a highly respected institution and no one needs to advise how much its highest-ranking officer should speak.

The AAP has always been irresponsible in its attempts to make a mark in the state of Punjab. Earlier, reports of its pro-Khalistani propaganda and even a banned Khalistani group funding the AAP campaign had come to light. Now, this irresponsible statement by the AAP MLA not only insults the prestigious and respectable office of the Army Chief but also seeks to potentially enrage the radical elements in Punjab. It ultimately, casts a shadow of doubt over the intentions of the Kejriwal-led party. This becomes gains much more significance as HS Phoolka is not an insignificant leader in the party. Kapil Mishra tweeted that Kejriwal and Phoolka were in Dubai together.

Therefore, this is not limited to HS Phoolka alone but also speaks volumes about the controversial views that the AAP seems to hold. The Amritsar blasts reiterate the fact that the AAP can go to any level in order to score political points. In all probability, this controversial statement is going to put the AAP in a very tight spot.