AAP refuses Congress alliance, demands opposition stand on Delhi ordinance
New Delhi, June 23: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced that it will not participate in any future Opposition gatherings involving the Congress unless the party publicly opposes the Centre's controversial ordinance regarding the control of administrative services in Delhi.
The statement issued by AAP expressed dissatisfaction with the Congress's hesitation to act as a team player on such a crucial matter, making it challenging for AAP to form alliances that include Congress.
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The AAP emphasised that the Congress must choose between supporting the people of Delhi or the Modi government. While senior Congress leaders have privately indicated their party's potential abstention from voting on the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, AAP expects the Congress to openly denounce the Black Ordinance and declare opposition by its 31 Rajya Sabha MPs.
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The AAP expressed concerns about Congress's silence, which raises suspicions about its true intentions and can benefit the BJP in undermining Indian democracy.
During the Patna opposition meeting, 12 parties with Rajya Sabha representation, except Congress, clearly stated their opposition to the ordinance. Despite efforts by other parties to elicit a response from the Congress, the party opted to remain silent.
Jasmine Shah, an AAP leader, stressed the need to take a firm stand when the Constitution is being violated. The opposition parties had gathered to demonstrate a principled stance rather than engage in superficial discussions. Sources revealed that there were heated exchanges between the Congress and the AAP during the Patna meeting.
AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal sought clarification from the Congress on their stance regarding the ordinance, while Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised allegations made by AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar, suggesting a Congress-BJP consensus. Kakkar had claimed that the Congress refrained from opposing the ordinance due to an undisclosed understanding with the BJP.
The Congress has maintained that the Patna meeting was not the appropriate forum to address such issues and that decisions on these matters are made prior to Parliament sessions. Kharge stated that discussions and opposition or support for issues occur within Parliament, not outside, and are agreed upon during all-party meetings.
The Patna gathering marked the first instance of various parties, previously at odds with Congress due to regional rivalries, sharing a platform.
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- With inputs from agencies
