Sharp exchanges between AAP, Congress sour Patna meet

Patna: Strong differences emerged between Congress and AAP during the Patna Opposition conclave, which led to AAP leaders leaving for Delhi without attending the news conference. In a statement later, AAP said that it would not participate in future opposition meetings until Congress cleared its stand on opposing the central bill to replace the ordinance that bestowed all powers to the Delhi lieutenant governor.

According to those who attended the meeting, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar first raised the issue.

He asked Congress leaders to take a decision saying that all other parties have decided to oppose the ordinance. Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi responded that there was no question of Congress supporting the BJP government's bill. Kharge said that Congress had a process in decision making and the matter would come up during the next Parliament session. Kharge also questioned AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar's statement that Congress seemed to be 'siding with the BJP.'


AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, however, insisted that Congress take a decision at the Friday meeting. After Congress leaders replied, leaders from other parties appealed to Kejriwal to give Congress time and move ahead with the agenda of the meeting.

NC leader Omar Abdullah said the issue of the meeting was how to stop BJP and it shouldn't be diverted from the core agenda. But this was enough for AAP leaders to leave for Delhi after having lunch.