E-Paper
FIRs against AAP rebel Sandeep Pathak in Punjab days after BJP switch: Sources
While it is not yet clear why the cases have been registered against the lawmaker, government sources said they have been filed under non-bailable sections.
Two FIRs have been filed against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak in Punjab days after he left the AAP and switched over to the BJP, sources told HT. While it is not yet clear why the cases have been registered against the lawmaker, government sources said they have been filed under non-bailable sections.
Amid reports of the FIRs on Saturday, Pathak was seen leaving his Delhi residence. When approached for questions, the Rajya Sabha MP was seen leaving in his car.
“Punjab Police is making efforts to arrest the accused as FIRs have been registered under non-bailable sections” government sources said.
There hasn't been any official confirmation from the police on the FIRs against the Parliamentarian. When asked about the report, Sandeep Pathak told news agency ANI: "I have no idea of any FIR against me."
Sandeep Pathak is among the seven Rajya Sabha MPs who recently quit the AAP and joined the BJP. Other leaders who made the switch were - Raghav Chadha, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney, Harbhajan Singh and Ashok Mittal.
Everyone except Maliwal is an MP from Punjab and their big BJP move lowered the AAP's Rajya Sabha tally from 10 to three, rendering the party a huge blow with just months left for elections in Punjab.
Sandeep Pathak was closely associated with the workings of the AAP in Punjab and is even credited with steering the party towards a decisive win against Congress in 2022 Assembly elections.
Vendetta politics in Punjab?
Reports of cases against Sandeep Pathak were condemned by BJP leader Tarun Chugh who said that “vindictive” actions were being carried out. “A palpable atmosphere of resentment against the AAP government has taken root in the minds of the people. It is out of this very frustration, despair, and angst that these vindictive actions are being carried out. However, the people of Punjab are not ones to be intimidated; Punjab will not bow down…,” Chugh told ANI.
A few days before, another rebel AAP leader, Rajinder Gupta, faced action in Punjab. Officials from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) raided Trident Group's Dhaula unit. Gupta is the founder of the textile major.
The action was labelled “vendetta politics” by the BJP as it accused the AAP of targeting Gupta because he quit the party. “PPCB raid on Trident reeks of political vendetta…The only fault of Gupta is that he dared to join the BJP for the betterment of Punjab, which has made him a target of the state government,” Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma had alleged.
However, the AAP dismissed the allegation, saying the visit by PPCB officials was part of routine inspection.
