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New Delhi, April 26 (IANS) Rajya Sabha member Vikramjit Singh Sahney refuted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's allegation that six of the seven MPs of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who crossed over to the BJP have betrayed the people of the state. Sahney, who himself is one of the seven estranged MPs, said they have now got an opportunity to serve Punjab "10 times more".

Notably, six of the seven former AAP MPs were elected from Punjab.

Following the exits, CM Mann had said, "These people are traitors to Punjabis. They got seats... they didn't even have to ask for votes. They didn't have to go to the streets or speak about people's issues. They went there only to save themselves. Now they don't even have a place there because they are with the BJP."

Speaking to IANS, Sahney said: "Nothing can be said about Bhagwant Mann. After all, he is the Chief Minister of Punjab who has been elected by the people. Moreover, he has a few months left after that the Modal Code of Conduct (MCC) will come into place, and then the Punjabis are smart enough to decide for themselves."

Refuting CM Mann's allegations that the estranged MPs betrayed the people of Punjab, he said: "We have never betrayed Punjab or its people. Earlier, we served with full dedication, body, mind, and resources, and now we will serve ten times more. We will not let any youth remain unemployed, and we are committed to eliminating drug abuse. We already have skill centres, and we will expand them further, he said.

The MP claimed to have had a conversation with Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary regarding the upliftment of skill centres in Punjab.

He further said: "I have also appealed to Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan to increase the monetary amount for crop diversification. He had asked me to bring a proposal on how much needs to be increased. We have to give them the numbers."

"Similarly, I have also spoken to (Union Minister of Commerce and Industry) Piyush Goyal regarding increasing the export of freight subsidy," Sahney added.

About the reported monetary relief provided by the Centre to Punjab during floods in the state last year, he said: "The Punjab government claimed to have not received the amount. I don't know what kind of black box concept this is."

"This is why it is not betrayal; we are willing to work wholeheartedly for Punjab. He (Mann) is the Chief Minister, so can say anything, but I hope that good sense will prevail," he asserted.

He was optimistic that the political storm that had erupted post the MPs' exits would settle down soon, and "everybody will work together".

--IANS

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