Former AAP leader Daljit Singh joins Punjab Congress

Former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Daljit Singh, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election against Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh from Amritsar, on Saturday joined Congress here.

Amarinder said Punjab Congress will be strengthened with Singh's entry.

Singh, contesting on an AAP ticket, had lost to Amarinder in the 2014 Lok Sabha election from Amritsar. He was expelled from AAP in July 2015 as its Punjab disciplinary committee chairman and state executive member for allegedly indulging in anti-party activities.

After joining Congress, Singh claimed that AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was "dangerous" for the country. "Conspiracies, not service, is their (AAP's) only agenda," he alleged.

He alleged there was no democracy in AAP and anyone who spoke against the "malpractices in the party was suppressed", adding that AAP was an "anarchist" organisation controlled by Kejriwal, Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak.

Amarinder said Punjab does not want Kejriwal "to come and disturb peace" in Punjab. He alleged that top AAP leaders "took money" to give tickets for the February 4 state polls.

"Money, and widespread complaints of molestation of women" showed the extent to which Kejriwal's party has stooped in its obsession for power, the former Punjab chief minister alleged.

Amarinder said it was clear AAP does not trust the people of Punjab, since its campaign was "managed by outsiders".

A large number of other AAP supporters and BJP councillor Anoop also joined Congress. They were AAP induction wing president Jatinder Modgill and zonal coordinator Jatin Sood, besides Barry Gerawal and Varinder Khara from the US, Simrat Kaur, Deep Kaushal, Gursharan Khatria and Balwinder Singh.

--PTI