What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
AAP calls for PAC meeting amidst Congress’ lackadaisical response to Delhi Ordinance
NEW DELHI: Amidst Congress’s lackadaisical response over the issue of the Delhi ordinance, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has called for its Political Affairs Committee (PAC) meeting in Delhi at 4 pm.
The PAC meeting will decide whether the party will attend the second round of meetings with the other opposition parties. The second round of meeting between the opposition parties is scheduled in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18.
AAP sources said the PAC meeting will be held at Delhi CM and party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s residence at 4 pm. Top AAP leaders, including Raghav Chadha, Sanjay Singh, Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj, will be attending the meeting. Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Maan is expected to join the meeting virtually.
A total of 15 political parties attended the first meeting of the opposition parties, which was held in Patna last month. In the meeting, AAP demanded to know Congress’ response to the ordinance. However, Congress leaders did not show much interest in the issue. Congress President Malikarjun Kharge had said the discussion would take place when the ordinance came before Parliament.
AAP calls PAC meeting in Delhi ahead of Bengaluru opposition meet on July 17-18. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann to join via video conferencing. Earlier, AAP had demanded clarity from Congress on ordinance, reports @AlokReporter
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 16, 2023
At Patna, AAP did not attend the joint press conference, as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had refused to meet CM Kejriwal. Sources within the AAP had disclosed that CM Kejriwal had sought a meeting with the former Congress president and Kharge to address the contentious issue of the ordinance.
During the meeting, it is learned, CM Kejriwal openly challenged Gandhi to clarify his party’s stance on the ordinance, only to be met with an unsettling refusal to respond. Gandhi even dismissed the AAP’s eagerness to meet him as a “mischievous” ploy.
#flash | Opposition unity meet scheduled for 17-18 July, will be held in Bengaluru.
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Yadav will attend, along with Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav and Sanjay Kumar Jha. They will depart from Patna on Monday morning.
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) July 16, 2023
Undeterred, CM Kejriwal made another attempt to engage with Gandhi and Kharge during a tea session. However, Gandhi made it clear that the party president (Kharge) would only take a call on the issue.
Expressing disappointment, sources in the AAP said that the party was willing to put aside differences for the greater good, however, Congress remained indifferent to the issue.
Prior to the meeting, the AAP had declared their intent to boycott if the Congress party failed to clarify its position on the ordinance. AAP leaders insisted that the Congress should at least publicly announce whether they supported or opposed the ordinance, a demand that fell on deaf ears.
