Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has requested a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, along with his party’s MLAs, to discuss the recall of seven Rajya Sabha members who recently joined the BJP. CM Mann is expected to address the issue of the MPs’ defection and advocate for their recall during the upcoming meeting. This move follows the decision of seven AAP Rajya Sabha members, including prominent figures like cricketer Harbhajan Singh, to leave the AAP and join the BJP.
The departure of these MPs has raised concerns, as under the anti-defection law, individual members risk losing their seats if they defect alone. However, since two-thirds of the AAP Rajya Sabha members from Punjab have switched sides, they are not expected to face disqualification. AAP supporters have staged protests outside the offices and residences of the MPs who left the party, expressing their discontent with the defections.
CM Mann criticized the BJP for its response to the recent developments, highlighting the party’s discomfort with the stringent laws against sacrilege in Punjab. He accused the BJP of attempting to undermine the state government through various means, including inducements and defections. Emphasizing the resilience of the Punjabi people, CM Mann stated that those betraying the state for personal gain will not be forgiven, as Punjab has a history of holding traitors accountable.
The Chief Minister further condemned the BJP’s strategy of weakening regional parties across the country, citing examples of similar tactics employed against other political leaders. He warned that the BJP’s divisive tactics will not succeed in Punjab, as the people of the state will stand united against such treachery. CM Mann affirmed that Punjabis will not tolerate attempts to destabilize their government and will respond decisively to any threats to their democratic process.
