SEKHON JOINS AAP, HAILS MANN’S STAND ON HAWARA AND BANDI SINGHS

Vikram Ditya Sharma/Ferozepur

Former gangster-turned-politician Gurpreet Singh Sekhon today joined the Aam Aadmi Party in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at a rally in Zira and praised him for writing to the Punjab Governor seeking parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara to meet his ailing mother. Sekhon also expressed hope that Mann would raise the issue of the release of other “Bandi Singhs”.

Mann formally inducted Sekhon into the party by draping an AAP scarf around him. Referring to Sekhon’s past, Mann said people should not be judged solely by their circumstances, as situations could sometimes lead individuals down the wrong path. He said those who chose to return to the mainstream with honest intentions should be given an opportunity to rebuild their lives.

Mann said his government was focused on providing basic facilities to people and cited welfare initiatives, including around 1,100 Mohalla Clinics across Punjab. He also took a dig at the Congress and SAD, alleging that both parties had lost relevance

Sekhon thanked his supporters who had reached the rally from Mudki, Ferozeshah, Talwandi Bhai, Ghall Khurd, Zira and adjoining areas. He lauded Mann’s initiatives, including waiver of electricity bills, buses for Tirath Yatra, Mavva Dhian Satkar Yojna and campaigns against drugs. He also praised the government for bringing the anti-sacrilege Bill in the Assembly.

Sekhon claimed that people of Punjab were with Mann and said he would return as Chief Minister after the upcoming Assembly elections.

His induction has triggered speculation in political circles that he could be given a significant responsibility and possibly be projected as the AAP candidate from Zira in the coming polls. Sitting AAP MLA Naresh Kataria was also present at the rally but did not respond to queries regarding the possibility of his replacement by Sekhon.

Kataria was accompanied by Amritpal Singh, MLA Bagha Purana, Gurdit Singh Sekhon, MLA Faridkot, Davinder Singh Laddi, MLA Dharamkot and other senior AAP leaders.