Former Punjab Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Sucha Singh Chhotepur Former Punjab Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Sucha Singh Chhotepur

Excerpts from the interview between former Punjab Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Kanchan Vasdev:

How do you look at the party’s action against you?

What kind of justice is this where the punishment is given without a trial? I was removed from the party post and an inquiry committee was constituted. The panel is headed by those who were signatories in the letter to Arvind Kejriwal seeking action against me. If they wanted an upright inquiry they should have given it to Kanwar Sandhu, Dr Dharamvira Gandhi and Harinder Singh Khalsa.

Bhagwant Mann said that apart from the sting, more complaints of you seeking bribe were received.

I heard him say I sought Rs 60 lakh from a ticket aspirant in Australia, struck a deal at for Rs 30 lakh and accepted an advance. I am not as rich as Mann but my supporters told me last night they were ready to buy the NRI a ticket so that he could come here and prove the allegations against me. Also, Mann is a druggie. He says something at night and forgets it the next morning.

Why do you say Mann is a druggie? Any evidence?

A dope test should be done. You will know. Everybody knows he stinks like a brewery. Of late, he has stopped drinking because of the smell. He takes some drug instead. He sways when he stands. Everyone knows that. He would have been beaten up at the bhog ceremony of the Behbal Kalan firing victims, where he came drunk, had I not been there.

Why did you protect him then?

Being state head of the party — I believed it was akin to being father of a family. I, too, should be punished for protecting him. He dreams of being the Chief Minister. Have you seen any drug addict becoming the CM?

Who will be the AAP’s

CM candidate? Was it ever discussed within the party?

They never trusted me and did not discuss it with me either. Mann is the main aspirant.

Who “blocked” Navjot Singh Sidhu’s entry into AAP?

Mann did. The day he resigned from the Rajya Sabha, Mann was in Delhi and panicked at the news. He thought they (AAP) were planning to bring Sidhu into the fold. He told me that we have been working hard for Punjab and when it came to reaping the benefits they are bringing in Sidhu. He told me Sanjay Singh and Durgesh Pathak had gone to prepare Sidhu’s arrival. Mann managed to block Sidhu later. I can go to a gurdwara and swear that this

is true.

You said that your colleagues were behind the sting operation. Do you have any evidence?

Everybody knows who is behind the sting. Gurlabh Singh, a close aide of legal cell chief Himmat Singh Shergill did the sting. I did not sense it when he came the first time. But then he came again with Rs 5 lakh. I did not accept it and asked him to leave. I am a 20th century man. I do not know how these stings are done. And I am very trusting. Stings cannot make parties. But many things will come out in the coming days.

You mean you have evidence?

Many things will happen in the coming days. I do not want to say anything. Just wait and watch.

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Why do you think there was a sting?

It started five months ago when I told Delhi that Durgesh was a power block. He was given absolute power. I told Kejriwal to trust me, his party’s convenor, and his intelligence also. I knew they would try to get me.

Considering the support you have got after the sting, you think it has made you a taller leader?

My phones have not stopped ringing since yesterday. I have got an overwhelming support. People are sympathising. I never had a godfather in politics. I am a straightforward man. It does not matter whether I am in a party or not.

Will you float your own party?

I am in no hurry. People are my strength. Whatever they tell me, I will do that.

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