Congress MLA Pargat Singh Issues Fresh Challenge to AAP Leaders for Public Debate
Congress MLA Pargat Singh has once again thrown down the gauntlet to the Aam Aadmi Party's top leadership. He demands a public debate on critical issues facing Punjab, particularly focusing on sacrilege cases and the Maur bomb blast. This challenge comes just two days after AAP leaders staged a protest outside his residence in Jalandhar.
Accusations of Avoidance and Police Shield
Pargat Singh did not mince words in his criticism. He claimed that when he previously challenged the AAP protesters gathered outside his home, they refused to engage. According to him, they hid behind a police cordon and hastily retreated. Now, he alleges, they are attempting to arrange debates through intermediaries, whom he dismissively refers to as agents.
The protest on Saturday took an unexpected turn. The senior Congress leader emerged to confront the demonstrators but was physically restrained by police personnel. Undeterred, Pargat Singh boldly challenged the AAP activists to a debate on the spot. He followed this with a strong verbal counter-attack against the ruling party.
Escalating Tensions and Counter-Challenges
On Sunday, the conflict intensified. AAP leader Deepak Bali, who serves as an adviser to the Punjab tourism department, publicly criticized Pargat Singh. Bali dared the Congress MLA to debate him on any topic. However, Pargat Singh remained steadfast in his position.
In a video statement released on Monday, the Jalandhar Cantonment MLA reiterated his challenge without directly naming individuals. I want to make it absolutely clear, he declared, I am fully prepared to debate any serious issue related to Punjab. This includes the sacrilege cases and the Maur bomb blast. I am ready to do this anywhere.
Specific Conditions for the Debate
Pargat Singh, however, set specific conditions for the proposed debate. He insisted that the discussion must involve one of three senior AAP figures:
- Arvind Kejriwal, the party supremo who pledged justice for Punjabis and the Sikh community in sacrilege cases.
- Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who holds the official files related to these incidents.
- Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, who assured justice at the Bargari protest site and facilitated its conclusion.
He further demanded that the debate be conducted in front of three independent, trustworthy, and impartial Punjabi journalists. The format should ensure equal speaking time and a strict focus on factual evidence. It is a simple proposition, he asserted. If you possess the courage, accept my challenge directly. Do not hide behind your agents to evade this debate.
The political atmosphere in Punjab remains charged as this war of words continues to escalate between the Congress and AAP.
