VOICE OF EX-SERVICEMEN PUNJAB

Chandigarh’s first int’l flight will take Sukhbir & Co to Gulf, at your expense

DEPUTY CM TO LEAD TEAM OF POLITICIANS, OFFICERS TO ATTRACT INVESTMENT

CHANDIGARH: It’s a matter of pride, after all. The first international flight from Chandigarh airport — to Sharjah on September 15 — will have Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal with a 50-member delegation of politicians and bureaucrats among the passengers, at government expense.From there, they will go to Dubai, 40km away, by road, soliciting investment in Punjab.

The 186-seat flight of government carrier Air India Express will have two other delegations, one led by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Dera Bassi, NK Sharma, who, being a real estate baron himself, will lead a 30-member delegation of property developers. Another 30-member delegation of industrialists will be onboard with the same aim. They will return on Saturday, September 17, by the same AI Express flight that will operate on Mondays, Thursday and Saturdays. The rest of the seats are for general passengers.Taking the delegations along, Sukhbir will hold a road show in Dubai to highlight Punjab as an investment destination. Sharma said the road show “will promote the state as a market for infrastructure projects, such as IT City, Medicity, and food-processing units, in close vicinity of the international airport”.

Though the introductory round-trip fare was Rs 9,500, these delegates are being charged more, at Rs 15,000 each, said an officer from Air India Express, the low-cost arm of governmentowned carrier Air India. All seats are in economy class. And, though low-cost carriers charge extra for anything served on board, the delegates have food boxes and beverages included in the fare.

For the Sukhbir-led delegation, the public expense on the flight alone will thus be `7.5 lakh.

The government will pick up the entire visit’s tab for only the Sukhbir-led delegation, underlined the deputy CM’s media adviser, Jangveer Singh, adding, “All three delegations will meet the ruling family of Dubai and other trade associations. The motive of the visit is to give a fillip to direct trade between the UAE and Punjab.”

State goes all out to sell excess power, but finds no buyers

Has offered to ‘dedicate’ 2,520 MW from 2 private thermal plants

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 29

In a desperate effort to sell excess power, the state government has made an offer to all power utilities across the country.

In the offer, it says that is willing to “dedicate power from two private thermal plants” recently established in Punjab “with an aim to sell its surplus power” for which it is paying fixed charges to these plants without consuming their power.

But not even a single utility in the country has come forward to buy that power. Hence, the state is unable to sell the 2,520 megawatts available with it.

Highly placed officials within the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) confirmed to The Tribune that Secretary (Power), Punjab, recently wrote to many states to sell and “sign a long-term contract for selling power from two of its private thermal plants”.

“The letter mentions that the state power utility was willing to enter into a long-term agreement to sell roughly 2,500 MW — 540 MW (2x270 MW) from GVK Thermal power project near Goindwal Sahib and 1,980 MW (3x660 MW) from Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL),” they said.

KD Chaudhri, chairman-cum-managing director, PSPCL, said that before this offer, the state utility tried as many as 19 tenders offering power at Rs 3.90 per unit, “but no buyer came forward”.

“The average rate of power in the open market is around Rs 3 while power generated in Punjab costs us roughly around Rs 3.60. We even floated an expression of interest, but there was no response,” he said.

Senior officials confirmed that as per agreements already signed by the state government, they would have to pay fixed charges of Rs 1,510 crore to TSPL while GVK will get 413.75 crore “even if Punjab does not utilise their power”.

Punjab bought power at Rs 3.01 per unit earlier this year while power from its own plants was available for Rs 3.60.

A senior official looking after power management at PSPCL confirmed that Punjab requires 5,000 to 7,000 MW per month during the non-paddy season and it met a demand of 11,400 MW this paddy season.

“The excess power available over and above this requirement should ideally be sold to cut cost for other consumers in Punjab, but the problem is that there is no buyer,” he said.

“We became power surplus. But instead of power rates going down, these are escalating for consumers, especially domestic,” said a senior official.

Interestingly, the majority of the state-owned thermal plants are shut due to low demand and unions within PSPCL claim that the state utility is planning to shut production permanently in state-owned plants.

However, senior officials confirm that units from these plants are shut only when demand is low or “there is paucity of coal”. At present, demand is very low and further declining.

Talwandi Sabo plantnow fully operational

• New Delhi: Vedanta’s 1,980-MW Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant has become fully operational. “The third unit (660 MW) of the plant started commercial production on August 24. It will be capitalised in September,” Vedanta has informed Bombay Stock Exchange. Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vedanta, had set up a coal-based super-critical thermal power plant in Mansa district. TSPL had signed a power purchase agreement with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited for the establishment of 1,980 MW (three units of 660 MW each) thermal coal-based commercial power facilities. The 100 per cent power generated from this project shall be supplied to PSPCL for 25 years. PTI

Cong not ideal option for us, says Dr Sidhu

Non-committal on AAP; hints at alternative group

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 29

Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, wife of former BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu, said here today that the Congress was not an ideal option for them, while stating that they would continue to “wait and watch” before taking a call.

The BJP MLA said, “Punjab needs selfless leaders. Our sole aim is to contribute to the welfare of the state. If need be, we may constitute a group of like-minded people.”

She said PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh could not be entrusted with bringing about reforms in Punjab. “He has done nothing for Amritsar or the state,” Dr Sidhu added.

She refuted reports about her husband’s meetings with AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi. “The reports even mentioned a deal that the Congress purportedly offered: A Lok Sabha seat for Sidhu and the Deputy CM’s post for me. It’s all frivolous,” she said.

Dr Sidhu didn’t clear the air about the couple’s apparent inclination to join AAP, but she was all praise for the party’s youth manifesto. “To implement it, you need trustworthy leaders,” she said.

She lamented that for the past three years, they had unsuccessfully tried to convince the BJP to part ways with the Akali Dal.

Khaira now says not supporting Chhotepur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 29

A day after AAP spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira termed the removal of Sucha Singh Chhotepur from the post of convener unfortunate, in a fresh statement today, he said he was not throwing his weight behind Chhotepur politically.

With the action against Chhotepur antagonising many sections and volunteers of AAP in Punjab, Khaira’s statement yesterday veered towards Chhotepur. But within a day of his initial statement, he issued another one to justify his stand that might be an indication of pressures at play within the party.

Khaira said his verbal comments on Chhotepur’s removal were misconstrued and misinterpreted.

He said: “I stand by the word unfortunate and sad, but that did not mean that I was throwing my weight behind him politically. I reiterate that I stand by the collective decision of the party pertaining to Chhotepur, but yes I did term the Chhotepur episode unfortunate as I felt so from my heart.”

Draws flak from Cong over ‘flip-flop’

• Jalandhar: The Punjab Congress on Monday took a jibe at Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Sukhpal Khaira, saying “he has set a record in fence sitting”. “If fence sitting was an event in Olympics, India would be assured of at least one gold medal with someone like you who has mastered the art (of fence sitting) representing the country,” the party told him. In a joint statement, senior Congress leaders Rana Gurjeet Singh, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Navtej Singh Cheema and Ramanjit Singh Sikki said Khaira recently added another record in fence sitting by first demanding action against Sucha Singh Chhotepur and then siding by him. The party leaders claimed that Khaira was the first to sign the letter to the AAP high command demanding action against Chhotepur. “And the moment he realised that this was not liked by Punjabis, he took a U-turn in his characteristic style and started defending Chhotepur,” they pointed out. TNS

Will support Kejri to oust Akalis: Brar

Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, August 29

Former MP and convener of Pehlan Punjab Jagmeet Singh Brar today said AAP was the only option for the people to save themselves from the clutches of feudal and one-family rule that “has ruined the state”.

Seeking a dialogue with AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, Brar said he was ready to extend all possible support to AAP on issue-based agenda for which he had been fighting all these years.

Emphasising the need for the formation of an alternative front to oust the SAD-BJP and prevent the Congress from assuming power in the state, Brar said he had no intention to launch any political outfit or take any decision that might scuttle the chances of AAP against the Akalis and the Congress.

He alleged that in the Khadoor Sahib byelections, both SAD and the Congress had a secret pact.

‘Sting leader’ not in race for ticket

Mansa, August 29

AAP leader Gurlabh Singh Mahal, an advocate who allegedly carried the sting operation on party’s former state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur, today said he was not in the race for party ticket from Mansa. “I had not applied for the party ticket. I have always worked against corruption that is also the part of party’s ideology,” he said.

He refused to comment over the sting operation and claimed that the matter was pending with the party’s Political Affairs Committee. Mahal joined AAP during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said Mahal had submitted corruption complaints along with audio and video proofs to party high command against several AAP leaders from Delhi as well as Punjab who were allegedly involved in corruption. He denied having complained against anyone. — TNS

United Ex-servicemen Front backs Congress

Assembly poll

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 29

The United Ex-servicemen Front today announced its support to the Congress for the 2017 Assembly elections.

Captain Chanan Singh Sidhu (retd), election incharge of the front, said the “incorruptible” AAP was getting mired in the layers of corrupted power and thus, decimating its so-called high moral ideologies.

He said since Captain Amarinder Singh, a former Army officer, had assured the front that the ex-servicemen would be involved in the administration set up.

“After holding rallies and meetings throughout the state, we observed that Capt Amarinder Singh was the only choice left for the welfare of the state. AAP’s bubble has burst and it has lost its face in the state,” he said.

About other probable “could be” options, he said, “The SAD-BJP was never on our agenda. We met top brass of AAP, including national convener Arvind Kejriwal and state affairs incharge Sanjay Singh, but were not impressed. We found Kejriwal unfit to rule the state as he had no knowledge of Punjab or Punjabiat. So, we unanimously decided to support the Congress,” he said.

Col Nishan Singh Randhawa (retd) said, “We have 28 to 30 lakh votes under the front’s banner. We will depute 1,000 task force volunteers in districts to keep a watch on the poll process,” he said.

Bathinda

Bansal accuses SAD-BJP of misleading people

Congress leaders interact with people in the city; take their suggestions for preparing party manifesto30 Aug 2016 | 12:59 AM

BATHINDA: Senior Congress leader and former Union railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today said the Punjab Government didn’t give land to lay a railway track from Rama Mandi to Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, which was proposed in the railway budget presented by him during his tenure

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 29

Senior Congress leader and former Union railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal today said the Punjab Government didn’t give land to lay a railway track from Rama Mandi to Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo, which was proposed in the railway budget presented by him during his tenure.

Pawan Bansal said he had announced two new railway links to be laid — one was Rama Mandi-Talwandi Sabo- Maur and the second was Ferozepur-Patti to connect the border area — but work on both these projects failed to take off as the Punjab Government had not provided land for this.

He said other states were quick in providing land for such projects.

Pawan Kumar Bansal and former Member of Parliament Vijay Inder Singla were today in the city to interact with people and take their suggestions for preparing the party manifesto.

While addressing a gathering, Pawan Bansal, lashing out at the SAD-BJP government, said this government was misleading the people of Punjab by claiming in advertisements that got the first international airport constructed at Mohali.

He said they were lying to the public as the airport was a joint venture between Punjab and Haryana and Haryana had given equal money for it.

He said no new airstrip had been made and Haryana had not even allowed the Punjab Government to name this airport after Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Congress leader Vijay Inder Singla lashed out at Modi and Kejriwal and said both had failed to deliver.

“Modi gave hope of ‘achhe din’ to the people but we can see two years have passed and things even become worst,” Singla added.

On Kejriwal, he said he had done nothing and just to escape responsibility, the AAP leader was blaming the Modi government for not allowing him to do anything.

Singla said when Sheila Dikshit became the chief minister of Delhi for the first time during the NDA government, she never complained and changed the face of Delhi.

The former MP said he was shocked to see that the SAD-BJP government had installed hoardings in Bathinda, taking credit for opening Bhabha Cancer Centre at Sangrur whereas it was he who made significant efforts to get the project sanctioned from the UPA government.

People raised many issues and demanded that they should be addressed when Congress came to power.

Arun Wadhawan, PCA selector, demanded that land for the cricket stadium should be given in the city.

Earlier, a world-class cricket stadium was announced on PAU land but later, the land was given for some other project.

People also raised the issue of water-logging and demanded that after coming to power, the Congress should probe the Rs 288 crore project given to Triveni company, which they alleged had done nothing in a year.

City residents also demanded that property tax should be abolished, more employment for youths should be generated and loans on 3-4 per cent interest should be given for small scale industry among other things.

Former state minister Harmander Singh Jassi, organiser of the event Harvinder Tinku Grover, Chiranji Lal Garg, and other leaders were present at the function

Aman Sood

Preneet woos NRIs in Milan

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 29

To garner support ahead of the 2017 Assembly poll, Congress leader and former Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur urged the non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Milan, Italy, to participate in the political process in the state. 

“Punjab is passing through a crucial phase as the elections are just six months away. These elections are going to decide the destiny of Punjab and the Punjabis,” she said while adding that it was only the Congress that could provide a strong, stable and effective government under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh.

The Congress leader is on a tour of the European countries and interacting with the Punjabi diaspora there with regard to the forthcoming elections. The former Union minister maintained that the Akali-BJP regime had devastated the state in the past 10 years. She said the state could not afford any experiment as the situation might deteriorate further.

“You have been a witness to the regimes led by Capt Amarinder Singh the Badals. So, choose between the two. The NRIs can influence the public opinion back home,” she said.

“The youth in Punjab is troubled by drugs and unemployment. Its trade and industry have touched the lowest point. Farmers are debt-ridden and committing suicides. Small traders have almost shut shop and major business houses have migrated to other states. The state is ruled by goons, controlled by the Badals,” the Congress leader said.

“Many major industrial houses had shown interest in agro industries. Unfortunately, all investors fled the state after they were intimidated by the Badals,” she said.

Cautioning people against the Aam Adami Party (AAP), she said it was an inexperienced outfit. “In Delhi, people gave them an unprecedented mandate but they failed to live up to their expectations. They could neither govern nor deliver anything. They betrayed the trust of the people,” she said while pointing out as to how Sheila Dixit served Delhi for 15 years without any complaint against anybody, including the Vajpayee government.   

Sack PAU VC, demands Congress

Alleges that varsity conducted pre-poll survey instead of addressing agrarian crises

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 29

A delegation of the Congress led by District Congress president Gurpreet Gogi, submitted a memorandum at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office to send it for Governor VP Singh Badnaur, demanding action against officials and Vice-Chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for misusing their powers.

Gogi alleged that the Vice-Chancellor had been playing at the hands of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal and recently conducted a pre-poll survey. The Congress activists demanded a high-level investigation in the case.

Gogi said, “The state has been facing serious agrarian crisis and PAU has failed to make any effort to save the farmers, who are committing suicides. Instead of conducting research to address the issues of agriculture, the authorities have been conducting the poll survey on students. They have put the lives of students at risk as people misbehaved with them by observing them as Badal’s men. The concerned officials and the Vice-Chancellor should be sacked.”

The district leaders of the Congress threatened that if the government took no action against the university, the party would protest.

They alleged that the former Vice-Chancellor gave the research land of university to the government for constructing hospital in Bathinda under political pressure. “The Vice-Chancellor should be replaced with a competent scientist, who knows the grace of his position,” said Gogi.

PAU in collaboration with a private company carried out a ‘socio-economic survey’ that was seemingly aimed at gauging the political affiliations of voters in Moga, Faridkot, Kapurthala, Nawanshahr and Jalandhar, last week.

Chhotepur’s bouncers, Sidhu’s hardball with AAP: Cong feels back in game

REGIONAL CARD Congress strategy to pitch Aam Aadmi Party as outfit of ‘outsiders’ has now been bolstered by Chhotepur’s calling Kejriwal and his team ‘anti-Sikh’

Whether Sidhu decides to join the AAP or not, it cannot create the same euphoria among voters. Sidhu too has come out as indecisive, hard-bargainer while his wife’s flip-flop has dented their credibility. A SENIOR CONGRESS LEADER

CHANDIGARH: Can you let those from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to rule Punjab? The regional card played by Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh at a political conference at Maghi Mela in January this year had a few takers as people thronged the rally of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal nearby. Come August and Congress, which was banking more on AAP’s misfortunes than its own luck, is feeling back in the game.

It is now AAP’s ousted state chief Sucha Singh Chhotepur who has raised the “outsiders versus Punjabis” bogey as he takes up cudgels against his own party and all Amarinder has to do is rub it in. Even in the months after the Maghi Mela — the conference when Congress realised Kejriwal’s sway in Punjab — it was the Congress that was hurtling from one controversy to another, be it its performance in the budget session, US-Canada tour of Amarinder, rout in state elections or allegations of Swiss bank accounts of the state Congress chief ’s family.

The AAP, all this while, was running full-page advertisements in newspapers on its performance in Delhi and making the right noises by publicising its ‘Parivar Jodo’ and Punjab dialogue programme. CONG’S ‘ACHHE DIN’ But “achhe din” for the Congress have come from bad tidings for the AAP. The controversy over using its poll symbol broom on the youth manifesto gave the AAP its first brush with being on the wrong side of ‘Panthic’ issues. The rebellion that followed its first and second lists too had the Congress counting its gains. But reports of cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu resigning from the Rajya Sabha and jumping onto the AAP bandwagon led to turmoil in the Congress camp as Amarinder went from ridiculing Sidhu as “yet another clown in the AAP” to welcoming him into Congress within a span of few hours.

Since then, the Congress too is learnt to have made efforts to reach out to Sidhu as its poll strategist Prashant Kishor believed he could swing votes in AAP’s favour in the state elections.But Kejriwal read the rulebook of “one family, one ticket” to Sidhu and went for his ‘Vipassana’ (meditation) in Himachal. He is back only to find Sidhu playing hardball. Though sources within the AAP claim the AAP-Sidhu talks are off, comedian-politician Gurpreet Ghuggi, who is close to Sidhu and part of his negotiations with the party, denies it. “We are eagerly waiting for Sidhu’s decision. He wanted some time. If he (Sidhu) puts Punjab above everything else, I am sure he will join us. His presence will benefit the party and the state,” says Ghuggi. ‘WILL DENT AAP’S NRI, SIKH FAN FOLLOWING’

But like the BJP, the AAP too is in no hurry to disown the Sidhus. The Chhotepur controversy has made the AAP eager for a Sikh face to fight allegations of Delhi leaders “targeting” those from Punjab. Sidhu is keeping up the suspense even as his wife Dr Navjot Kaur likes to throw reporters in tailspin by announcing, “Sidhu out of BJP, still in BJP, all options open, AAP best option and AAP not only option”.

But amidst the melee, the poll pitch is looking greener to the Congress.

Though efforts to woo Sidhu are on, the party also does not want to look too eager for his company. Punjab Congress affairs in-charge Asha Kumari says the Sidhus are still a part of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and it is for them to knock at the Congress door. “Our stand has been clear and consistent. It is for Sidhu to decide where he wants to go. The doors of Congress are open for everyone,” she says.

On his part, Amarinder said Chhotepur was welcome in the Congress fold to ensure another AAP faction does not slice away anti-incumbency votes. But Chhotepur is not likely to join either the Congress or the front of disgruntled AAP MPs Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa.

Even if he doesn’t, the Congress feels the outbursts of Chhotepur, especially his calling Kejriwal and his Delhi team “anti-Sikh”, has dented the AAP fan following among NRIs (nonresidetn Indians) and Sikhs in Punjab. Many radicals in Punjab and abroad too were seen as AAP sympathisers.

“Whether Sidhu decides to join the AAP or not, it cannot create the same euphoria among the media and voters. Sidhu too has come out as indecisive and a hard-bargainer while his wife’s flip-flop has dented their credibility. The AAP hype in Punjab too has fizzled out,” a senior Congress leader said.

As Kejriwal’s party fights its own battles, the Congress will be unleashing its door-to-door campaign in the state from September 5.

Party’s rank and file will reach out to all constituencies even as surveys will try to locate the best candidates and weed out the “undesired” ones.

AAP is anti-Punjab and anti-people: Cheema

AAP leaders have no respect for any religion as they compared their party’s youth manifesto with the Gita and Guru Granth Sahib. By printing their party symbol broom along with the picture of Sri Harmandar Sahib they hurt feelings of Punjabis in general and Sikhs in particular. DR DALJIT SINGH CHEEMA, education minister

BABBEHALI (GURDASPUR): Punjab education minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) spokesman, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, termed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) anti-Punjab and anti-people.Cheema, who was chief guest at the inaugural function of the three-day Babbehali ‘Chhinjh’, was addressing a press conference on the sidelines of the function at Babbehali village near Gurdaspur on Monday.

Cheema alleged that the AAP’s hand was there in all the incidents of sacrilege of holy books of all faiths in the state as it wanted to disturb peace and communal harmony in Punjab.Supporting his accusation against the AAP, Cheema pointed out that a Delhi MLA of AAP was facing trial for his alleged involvement in the sacrilege of Quran at Malerkotla.

Cheema said that AAP leaders have no respect for any religion and they compared their party’s youth manifesto with the Gita and Guru Granth Sahib. Cheema said that the AAP leadership deliberately printed their party symbol broom along with the picture of Sri Harmandar Sahib to hurt the feelings of the Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular.

Cheema said that party convener Arving Kejriwal’s suggestion to his party’s then state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur to take responsibility of printing a photo of a broom along with the picture of Sri Harmandar Sahib on the party’s youth manifesto and on Chhotepur’s denial, his remarks to Chhotepur, “What then if they ex-communicate you from the community ?” were proof of Kejriwal’s anti-Punjab ideology.

Cheema asserted that AAP leaders are mere groups of people, who want to loot Punjab and its people. Cheema remarked that under a deep conspiracy, AAP leaders defamed Punjabis as drug addicts, which is grave injustice to the brave community of Punjabis. Cheema called the AAP an enemy party of Punjab.

Treating the Congress on par with the AAP, Cheema also accused the Congress of supporting the ‘sarbat khalsa’, organised by the radical groups of the Sikhs at Amritsar, a few months ago, to destabilise the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

Speaking on the ‘Chhinjh’ inauguration, Cheema praised local Akali MLA Gurbachan Singh Babbehali for organising it every year. Cheema said that the Babehali ‘Chhinjh’ was the symbol of the age-old Punjabi culture in which games and sports were an integral part of life.

Cheema also inaugurated the Punjab Senior Wrestling Championship by introducing two wrestlers for t heir wrestling competition.

AAP has no standing in the state: Manpreet Singh Badal

NABHA: Lashing out at the Aam Aadmi Party, former state finance minister and Congress leader Manpreet Singh Badal said that the party had no standing in the state.During his one-day tour to Nabha on Monday, Manpreet Badal, who is also the Congress party’s manifesto team leader said, “A party that does not have a bank account in Punjab cannot claim to bring about transparency and accountability in the state.”Manpreet Badal toured Nabha along with MLA Sadhu Singh Dharmsot and interacted with various groups including commission agents, rice mill association, trade unions, industrial focal point association, skilled and unskilled laborers and villagers and listened to their grievances.

He said the manifesto team leaders will spend one full day in every Vidhan Sabha assembly and conduct such meetings.

Manpreet Badal said if Congress comes to power, it intends to keep a check on “unnecessary VIP culture and privileges”.

He said that the party plans to table every bureaucrat and legislator’s assets in the assembly. STAYS MUM ON CHHOTEPUR

When asked if former AAP convenor Sucha Singh Chhotepur would be taken into the party, he said, “I am not in position to comment on the matter regarding acceptance of Sucha Singh Chhotepur or announce the CM candidate of the party.”