Punjab Newsline | Patiala
Former Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former cabinet minister Surjit Singh Rakhra formally joined the Aam Aadmi Party in Patiala on Saturday.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann personally inducted Rakhra into the party during a special event held in the city.
Addressing the gathering, Rakhra said the Punjab government’s strict law against sacrilege cases and its historic campaign to deliver canal water across the state were the key reasons behind his decision to join AAP. He also announced that he would begin a new political innings as the party’s candidate from the Samana Assembly constituency in the upcoming elections.
Soon after taking the stage, the former minister openly responded to questions from the media regarding his recent political move. Rakhra made it clear that his decision to join AAP was driven entirely by the interests of Punjab and the protection of Sikh religious sentiments.
He emphasized that the state government’s stand on sacrilege-related issues and its efforts for farmers and water management convinced him that AAP was working in the right direction for Punjab’s future.
