AAP’s Punjab allies flayed for ‘insulting’ dalit MLA

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday slammed his party’s Punjab allies, the Bains brothers of Lok Insaaf Party (LIP), for making derogatory remarks against its new Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.

The Aam Aadmi Party  (AAP) national convener claimed that LIP leader Simarjeet Bains had “insulted” a dalit leader and his views were “disgusting”.

The tension between the two parties arose after the AAP Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia replaced Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira with Harpal Singh Cheema, a dalit leader from Dirba constituency.

Expressing his disappointment at the decision, LIP legislator Mr Simarjit Singh Bains referred to Mr Cheema as AAP’s “pappu” (fool). To this, Mr Kejriwal said that the LIP leader’s “views on Dalits are disgusting”.

“The Bains brothers have such disgusting views on dalits. This is  embarrassing. They should apologise to the entire dalit community. BJP, Congress, Akali Dal and Bains, all have the same disgusting views on the dalit community. They have always been committing crimes against dalits. That is why AAP has declared a dalit as the next LoP,” Mr Kejriwal said, in a tweet.

AAP in Punjab condemned the “derogatory statement” by Mr Bains by calling it an insult against the dalit community.

“AAP Punjab condemns this derogatory statement by Mr Bains against Mr Cheema. He has insulted the entire dalit community with these remarks. These comments prove beyond doubt that they are anti-poor and anti-dalit. People of Punjab will never forgive them!” the party said.