Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate an impartial probe into allegations levelled against Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal by his former colleague Kumar Vishwas. Vishwas on Wednesday had alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener was ready to hobnob with separatists elements to become Punjab’s CM.
“As CM of Punjab, I request Hon'ble PM @narendramodi Ji to order an impartial enquiry in the matter of @DrKumarVishwas Ji’s video. Politics aside, people of Punjab have paid a heavy price while fighting separatism. Hon’ble PM needs to address the worry of every Punjabi,” CM Channi tweeted.
“One day, he told me he would either become the chief minister (of Punjab) … or the first prime minister of an independent nation (Khalistan),” Vishwas told news agency ANI. Vishwas was one of the co-founders of AAP and had a public fallout with the Delhi CM.
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Rahul questions Kejriwal’s silence
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised Arvind Kejriwal for his silence over allegations levelled against him by Kumar Vishwas. Rahul asked him to come clean on the claims.
“..a few days back, one of the founders of the AAP, Dr. Kumar Vishwas, accused Kejriwalji of supporting extremism for political gains. Why is Kejriwal silent on those allegations? Just say yes or no, is he lying or not?” asked Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Bassi Pathana in Punjab.
Rahul also clammed Kejriwal for his overnight stay at an ex-militant Gurinder Singh’s house during 2017 elections. “Congress doesn't compromise but Kejriwal does. He slept at the house of a terrorist few years ago. Now Kumar Vishwas has issued a remark,” Congress’s twitter handle quoted Rahul saying.
Gurinder Singh was allegedly part of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). KCF was behind a blast near a temple in Mandi Mustafa in Baghapurana in Moga district, Punjab. The trial court had acquitted Singh in the case.
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Meanwhile, AAP leader Raghav Chadha hit back at political rivals for the unfounded claims levelled at his boss. “All the parties came together to stop the AAP from forming the government in Punjab. As part of the conspiracy, Congress, BJP and Akali leaders are continuously giving false statements and spreading disinformation to defame Arvind Kejriwal,” Chadha said.
Exuding confidence, Chadha said that the people of Punjab recognise the honest intentions and governance of Arvind Kejriwal. “I would like to tell these dishonest forces that the people of Punjab will not be misled by this propaganda. Punjabis know that the dishonest forces just want to conspire to stop an honest Arvind Kejriwal and AAP… You are the same people who made allegations against Kejriwal before the Delhi assembly elections. All political parties including Prime Minister Modi called him a 'naxalwadi'. But the people of Delhi gave a befitting reply to the BJP and showed that Arvind Kejriwal is a nationalist and not a terrorist,” Chadha said in a statement.
