1984 Riots Lawyer HS Phoolka Quits AAP, Submits Resignation to Arvind Kejriwal
Phoolka was elected as a first-time MLA in the Punjab assembly elections held in March 2017. He served as the Leader of Opposition till last year, when he was replaced over differences brewing within the state unit of AAP.
New Delhi, January 3: Senior advocate HS Phoolka on Thursday announced his decision to quit the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The resignation was submitted by him to the party's national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Phoolka said he would address a press conference tomorrow to explain why he has resigned.
Phoolka, a noted lawyer of 1984 riot victims, was elected as a first-time MLA in the Punjab assembly elections held in January 2017. He served as the Leader of Opposition till last year, when he was replaced over differences brewing within the state unit of AAP. HS Phoolka Apologises After 'Blaming' Army Chief For Amritsar Blast.
Here is what Phoolka said after submitting his resignation to Kejriwal:
On October 12 last year, Phoolka resigned from the legislatorship of Dhaka constituency. He decided to quit the legislative assembly after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh turned down his plea to order the arrest of ex-CM Parkash Singh Badal and former DGP Sumedh Singh Saini for their alleged role in the sacrilege incidents.
Phoolka follows the string of AAP leaders in Punjab who have either been expelled or have resigned from the party owing to differences with the high command.
Among the firsts to go were Lok Sabha lawmakers Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa, who resigned shortly after the party booted out co-founders Yogendra Yadav, Prashant Bhushan, Anand Kumar, Ajit Jha and other rebel leaders in April 2015.
By late 2016, when the elections in Punjab neared, the party also lost its state unit convenor and former Akali minister Sucha Singh Chhotepur.
In May 2017, the then Punjab unit chief of AAP, Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi resigned after Bhagwant Mann was announced as his successor to the post.
In July 2018, 16 leaders of AAP Punjab submitted their resignations enmasse to protest against the alleged undemocratic behaviour of party's state unit chief Balbir Singh and in-charge Manish Sisodia.
On November 4, 2018, AAP decided to expel Sukhpal Khaira and Kanwar Sandhu for their indulgence in "anti-party" activities.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 03, 2019 08:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).