I took leave for personal work, not upset with AAP: Mann

Chandigarh: A video clip of AAP MP Bhagwant Mann was posted on micro-blogging site Twitter in which he claimed that he was “on leave” for personal engagements and asked the supporters not to believe the rumour being spread by other political parties. With opposition parties taking a swipe at AAP for the “missing” Sangrur MP, Mann, in the video clip said, “Rumours are being spread that I am upset with my party and I have gone missing. “After the rally at Baghapuarana in Moga, I took leave for personal work. That is why there is no activity on my Facebook or in other part of Punjab for the last two days,” he said. “It is a complete lie that I am upset or I am seeking something or I may be thrown out (of the party). Do not believe these lies. I will soon be active and will disclose my programme about rallies,” Mann said in the video. Notably, questions are being raised after Mann remained absent from the political conference organised by AAP at Chhapaar Mela in Ludhiana yesterday. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal described AAP as a “bunch of unprincipled leaders” and said the party will “vanish” from the political arena of the state before the assembly polls next year in the wake of the ongoing “tug of war” within the outfit. Taking a jibe at Mann, he said if the need rises, the government will trace the Lok Sabha MP as it is the duty of every government to trace “missing persons”. Punjab Congress Chief Amarinder Singh on a question about Mann said he had no idea about his (Mann’s) intentions and whereabouts. “However, I must say that there is strong sense of introspection among the Punjabi AAP leaders, who are the sons of the soil, about they being ruled over and exploited by the others and they are duly standing up against it and may be Bhagwant Mann is also feeling the same way,” he said.