Cracking the whip, the Congress on Monday expelled senior leader Jagmeet Singh Brar, a known detractor of its Punjab unit chief Amarinder Singh, from the party in the wake of his consistent statements against the interests of the organisation.
“All India Congress Committee (AICC) has expelled Jagmeet Singh Brar, ex-MP, from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect,” Party general secretary and in-charge of Punjab affairs Shakeel Ahmed said.
He announced the action in a tweet, minutes after emailing a letter to the rebel leader telling him that he had not kept his word of not speaking anything on party matters in the public fora.
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“Even after messaging me through mobile phone that ‘I will not utter a single word on the advice of the high command’ you kept on tweeting and made statements in print and electronic media which were totally against the interests of the party in Punjab....
“Please consider this as your letter of expulsion,” Mr Ahmed said, adding AICC has decided to take action “after considering every aspect of the issue”.
Party leaders said that the AICC has taken the action as Mr Brar was attempting to demoralise and embarrass partymen through his statements in the State, where it is gearing up for Assembly election next year.
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The action came close on the heels of a host of senior party leaders from Punjab complaining to the high command demanding his expulsion.
Mr Brar had turned a harsh critic of Amarinder from the day he was appointed as PCC chief and had even praised AAP’s rally at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar.
Reacting strongly to his expulsion, Mr Brar said he had been “condemned without hearing”.
“I have just received a mail of general secretary Shakeel Ahmad expelling me from the primary membership of the party. Condemned without hearing,” he said on twitter.
He also said that “the world knows, I am a common political target of Amarinder and Sukhbir in 2017, I will struggle and win.” The former Congress Working Committee (CWC) member was suspended for his “anti-party” remarks after the party’s defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Brar had suggested that Sonia Gnadhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi go on a sabbatical to introspect on the reasons for the party’s worst performance in the parliamentary elections. He also blamed the disconnect between party leadership and workers for the Congress rout.
Mr Brar returned to the Congress fold in August last year after party president Sonia Gandhi revoked his suspension. - PTI