Published 12:40 IST, November 1st 2020
AAP rejects Punjab CM’s appeal to join in meeting President; calls it 'political drama'
On Saturday, The Aam Aadmi Party rejected Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s appeal to all parties’ MLAs to accompany him to meet President Ram Nath Kovind
On Saturday, the Aam Aadmi Party rejected Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s appeal to all parties’ MLAs to accompany him to meet President Ram Nath Kovind on November 4 to request him to give his assent to the state’s amended farm laws. Aam Aadmi Party senior leader Harpal Singh Cheema termed CM's move as a “mere political drama” and stated that AAP will not be a part of the delegation headed by the CM.
Cheema stated that bills passed in Punjab Assembly negate Central laws, asserting that it would not help protect the farmers’ interests. He added that there was no point in meeting the President as the Punjab Governor has not yet signed the Bills. He further suggested that instead of meeting the President, if the CM leads a delegation of all parties to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the AAP would have gladly accepted the offer.
“Had Captain Amarinder decided to stage a ‘dharna’ outside the Prime Minister’s residence to repeal the black laws, including the Air Pollution Ordinance, the AAP would have extended its full support to him,” he said in a statement here.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday had appealed to MLAs of all political parties to accompany him for a meeting with the President on November 4.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said Amarinder Singh has appealed to all state MLAs to stand up and rise above party lines in safeguarding the state's interests, which are being “trampled upon” by the Union government.
War of words between Kejriwal and Captain Amarinder Singh
Last month, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh accused SAD and AAP of adopting brazen double standards over the bills passed by the state assembly to counter the Centre's farm laws. Taking to Twitter, the Punjab CM said the two opposition parties despite supporting the passage of the bill inside the assembly, denounced them publicly later outside.
Responding to Punjab CM's tweet, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took a jibe at the former for amending the Centre's law and further questioned that how will it benefit the farmers. Further terming the laws to be 'false and fake', Kejriwal accused Punjab CM of fooling the public.
Updated 12:40 IST, November 1st 2020