Audio on clipping Sukhpal Khaira’s wings goes viral, AAP to probe

The purported audio conversation is allegedly between party leaders Garry Birring and Sumit Yadav about the role of Khaira in turmoil in the state unit, support he gets from AAP MLAs and the need to cut him down to size in the state.

Another unsavoury controversy has broken out in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after an audio clip of a purported conversation between two party leaders on clipping leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s wings went viral on social media.

Sukhpal Khaira said he was fighting the Congress and the Akalis, and never expected people in his own party to conspire against him in this manner.(HT File)

The purported audio conversation is allegedly between party leaders Garry Birring and Sumit Yadav about the role of Khaira in turmoil in the state unit, support he gets from AAP MLAs and the need to cut him down to size in the state. Thereafter, another audio containing some disparaging comments on party MLAs has surfaced on the social media.

I am fighting the Congress and the Akalis, and never expected people of my own party to conspire against me in this manner. This is unfortunate.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, leader of opposition in assembly

Birring, who is in-charge of organisation building in the state unit, has categorically denied any involvement in the controversial clips. “The voice in these audio clips is not mine,” he said in a statement issued through a party functionary dealing with media. However, Yadav told a TV channel that the conversation took place about one-and-a-half months ago. “I am the other person in the audio. Our voice samples can be taken and got tested from any lab to check the veracity of my claim,” he said.

Reacting to the controversial audio clips, Khaira said he was fighting the Congress and the Akalis, and never expected people in his own party to conspire against him in this manner. “This is very unfortunate. These are probably the people who are creating a misunderstanding between me and party leaders in Delhi, including (AAP national convener Arvind) Kejriwal,” he added.

Punjab AAP co-president Balbir Singh said he would get an inquiry done into the claim made by Sumit Yadav as it was a serious matter. “The audio clips appear to be have been carefully edited or doctored. We will get them examined from experts. The manner in which these clips have been released shows that the intention is to damage the party. When I talked to Birring today, he categorically denied that it was his voice,” he said.

The AAP, the principal opposition party, has been rocked by infighting and differences with the central leadership over “interference” in the last one year.