Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday, 16 March, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal had "murdered" his party in the state by apologising to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
The Delhi chief minister had, on 15 March, apologised to Majithia for accusing him of being involved in the drug trade in Punjab, saying he had learnt that his allegations were “unfounded”.
Today AAP has been murdered in Punjab by Kejriwal.Navjot Singh Sidhu
Hitting out at Kejriwal, Sidhu added, "Man like coward Kejriwal dies everyday for fifty times. But a brave man dies only once in life. This is a psychological death of the party. Kejriwal has decimated the AAP in Punjab”.
"Initially, he tried to run the party (in Punjab) from Delhi through remote control. Today, he is a helpless gambler", he alleged.
Kejriwal Draws Flak From AAP Leaders
Kejriwal's apology drew flak from his party's leaders and MLAs in Punjab, who said they were "stunned" by the move and "disappointed" as he had not kept them in the loop.
Soon after Kejriwal’s apology, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, AAP leader and the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, tweeted that the Delhi chief minister did not consult other party members.
Another AAP leader from Punjab condemned Kejriwal’s apology.
Kumar Vishwas took a jibe at Kejriwal, and accused him of not standing by his words.
SAD Leaders Lash Out, Say Kejriwal’s Apology Exposes ‘Cheap Politics’
SAD leader and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal lashed out at Kejriwal on Friday, accusing him of cheap politics.
This exposes cheap politics by the AAP. They spread false propaganda. They built their entire election campaign in Punjab on a lie. It’s good that he has accepted his lies.Harsimrat Kaur Badal
Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said he is happy that those fighting for truth have won.
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