AAP undecided on Uttar Pradesh polls, to focus on Punjab elections

VARANASI: Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday made it clear that it was currently concentrating on contesting the upcoming Punjab assembly polls and decision on participation in UP, Uttarakhand and Manipur assembly polls scheduled in 2017 would be taken in next two to three months.

In the east UP Workers' Convention in the city, senior party leaders, including Sanjay Singh and Ashutosh, targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mocked declassification of files on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose in phases. The leaders alleged that an organisation that had no role in freedom struggle was trying to fan controversy by glorifying some freedom fighters and distorting image of others for political gains.

They also claimed that both the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party were trying to create a communal divide before 2017 assembly elections by raking up the issue of Ram temple construction at Ram Janmbhoomi in Ayodhya.

Reiterating party chief and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's statement on filmmaker Karan Johar's remarks on freedom of expression, the party maintained that 'intolerance did exist in the country' and targeted Modi for it. They also targeted him on rising communalism and discrimination with dalits in the society.

Leader Sanjay Singh said, "PM is selective on showing sensitivity and sympathies. He performs planned drama like becoming emotional on the issue of Rohith Vemula's suicide but remains mum on attacks on churches, killing of MM Kalburgi and Mohd Ikhlaq and opposition to Ghulam Ali's visit."

He further said that Modi's inaction against party leaders like Yogi Adityanath, Giriraj Singh and Sakshi Maharaj for spewing venom against Muslims and delay in seeking resignation from cabinet colleague Bandaru Dattatreya and sending him behind the bars in Rohith suicide case were sufficient proof of the existence of intolerance in the country.

The AAP leaders warned of massive agitation against harassment of three students, who protested against Modi in BBA University, Lucknow. They also questioned the silence of Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on the two issues.

Targeting Samajwadi Party government in UP on law and order, AAP leaders alleged that the ruling party misused government machinery and money power to ensure victory of its candidates in zila panchayat chairman. They asked Election Commission to ensure direction election of zila panchayat and block development chiefs. The leaders said that the Centre was black mailing SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati through CBI.