The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Sunday accused Aam Aadmi Party’s rebel faction, led by former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira, of humiliating and subjugating Dalit community in the state.
In a statement, president of SAD’s Dalit wing Gulzar Singh Ranike said Khaira was playing with the sentiments of the Schedule Castes and backward classes by refusing to accept a Dalit, Harpal Singh Cheema, as new leader of opposition. Cheema’s selection for the post was made by AAP leadership in New Delhi.
Ranike also took a dig at Khaira for allegedly running a campaign on social media to defame deputy leader of opposition in Punjab Assembly Sarabjeet Kaur Manuke and MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby, who didn’t support the rebel group during the volunteers convention held recently at Bathinda.
“A party like APP which took pride in accepting social change suddenly has done a volte face and is stooping to stalk and troll woman MLA of APP on social media,” he said.
Asking for an immediate apology from Khaira to the Dalits and women in the state, Ranike said for petty political gains, the Bholath MLAS has discarded his morals and principles.
The Akali leader said in a state where demographics said that more than 30 per cent of the population was Dalit, the contribution of the scheduled castes and backward classes was immense.