Phoolka not contesting Lok Sabha Elections in 2019
Author(s): City Air NewsLudhiana, January 4, 2018: Senior Lawyer and Aam Aadm Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka on Friday categorically stated that he is not contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections. In a statement here today, he said,...
Ludhiana, January 4, 2018: Senior Lawyer and Aam Aadm Party (AAP) leader HS Phoolka on Friday categorically stated that he is not contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections.
In a statement here today, he said, “When I joined Politics in 2014, it was after the Anna Hazare movement and it was with a view to further the social work that I had been doing since the past many years, especially in Punjab. There were many other social workers at the time who felt the same and joined politics. As you already know, most of them eventually withdrew themselves from politics and resumed their social work. Since last over a year, I have been away from active politics.”
Adding, he said, “I feel now that it may have been better if the Anna movement continued as a parallel social movement, rather than converting into a political party. There is a need of the hour in our country for there to be a parallel non-partisan social movement that is not merged with politics. The objective of such a movement should be to maintain a check on all political parties, across the board.
It may sound very ambitious and more of a dream rather than a possibility. But then my struggle of over 34 years is a living example that anything is possible if one is determined. 34 years back when I started this struggle, I was only 28 years old with 3 years experience in law. Like I took on this cause as my life’s mission, I appeal to the youngsters today to raise a social movement that can put a check on all political parties.
I will start this movement from Punjab, primarily working against rampant drugs and de-politicization of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. It is most unfortunate that drugs are so commonly distributed in Punjab with because of political patronage and no political party is seriously working against it. The SGPC is the highest religious body of the Sikhs, and is expected to be doing maximum work in health, education sector etc, especially for the needy. Since the past many decades now it has been entirely usurped by a political party to further their own political agenda. We will work towards constituting a front of non-political and religious leaders with a background of social work, to contest the forthcoming elections of the SGPC. The body must be allowed to retain its character, free from political influence.
It is with this in mind that I tendered my resignation yesterday.”
Further, he said, “I have fought the 1984 killings on a common platform, which has been supported by all non-Congress political parties. Now Sajjan Kumar is behind bars.”
Concluding the statement, he said, “I also want to clarify that I am not contesting the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections.”