Cong seeks report from Punjab unit before receiving call on extension of AAP support in Delhi services ordinance

A day after the Punjab unit urged the Congress High Command to consult state units before deciding whether to support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on the issue of the Delhi ordinance, the top leadership requested a report from the state unit on the cases registered against the local. Bhagwant Mann government leaders stressing that he would defend them against what he claimed was a “political witch hunt”.

The AAP leadership, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been traveling across the country seeking support for the party on the issue. Kejriwal met with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar on Thursday.

Congress has yet to make its position clear on the issue, but the Punjab unit has been asking its top leaders to consult them before making a decision.

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Following the request, the Congress high command requested a report from the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on the cases registered against the party leaders by the state government.

AICC General (organization) Secretary KC Venugopal has requested a report from CCP chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, party sources said.

The Punjab Congress has been claiming political revenge against its leaders by the AAP government in the state.

Apart from the arrest of former ministers Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the report, which is to be submitted to the high command, also mentions the arrest of his former MLA Kikki Dhillon and the ongoing investigations against former CM Charanjit Channi, the former minister. Brahm Mohindra, MLA Barinder meet Pahra and Sukhpal Kahira.

“All politically motivated cases that the Punjab government has brought against the Congress leadership will be brought to the attention of the high command,” Warring said.

Opposition leader Partap Singh Bajwa said the AAP did not deserve congressional solidarity because it had unleashed a ruthless witch-hunt against congressional MLAs, leaders and state workers. He has already urged the party high command to take this point into consideration before making a decision on extending support to the AAP on the issue of the ordinance.

Punjab Congress leaders urged the party high command to consult the leaders of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Gujarat and Karnataka before even considering helping the AAP.