Asha Kumari Appointed AICC In-Charge of Punjab, Stirs Controversy

Kumari is replacing Kamal Nath, who quit three days after his appointment, post an uproar from opposition parties.

Congress leader Asha Kumari, appointed in-charge in Punjab replacing Kamal Nath, met party president Sonia Gandi on Monday.

The Congress’ choice has triggered a controversy as Kumari has been convicted in a land grab case. Kumari, who is an MLA from Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh, was sentenced to one year in jail by a Chamba court in February this year but is currently out on bail.

An AICC secretary and four-time MLA, Kumari was facing trial in the case for over a decade along with six other people.

The BJP is free to allege what they want to but it is not the truth. 

Asha Kumari

The opposition parties have accused the Congress of not having any “clean” politicians to appoint for the position.

Punjab BJP leader Vineet Joshi said the appointment was “unfortunate and disgusting”.

First, it was Kamal Nath and now Asha Kumari, who has been sentenced one-year jail by court in a case of land grab that too recently. I think they don’t have good leaders.

Nath, a veteran Congress leader, had to quit as AICC in-charge of Punjab within three days after his appointment in the wake of an uproar by BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and AAP over his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

By appointing Asha Kumari as Punjab in-charge, Congress party has proved they are not serious about getting rid of corruption in the state. After tainted Kamal Nath, her appointment shows Congress is short of clean leaders.

Jarnail Singh, AAP MLA, Rajouri Garden

(With inputs from PTI)