Mann to present case against rebel MPs to President today

Chandigarh: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said he would meet President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday and explain to her his party's view on the recent defection of seven Rajya Sabha MPs — six from Punjab — to the BJP.Mann had earlier sought the appointment with the President to formally demand the "recall" of six of the rebel MPs, arguing that they lost the moral and democratic mandate of the Punjab MLAs who elected them. Mann had later informed that the President's office granted time for him alone, adding that he would travel with his MLAs, who will wait outside Rashtrapati Bhawan while he presents his case. Many AAP MLAs from distant areas of the state already reached Chandigarh by Monday evening. During the confidence motion moved by the ruling party in the assembly, 88 AAP MLAs were present in the House, with two AAP MLAs abroad, two lodged in jail and two hospitalised. Replying to a question about Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha also getting an appointment with Murmu for Tuesday, Mann told media persons in Mohali on Monday, "Everyone has the right to meet the President. Tomorrow at 12 o'clock, I too will meet the President and I will go and explain everything from my side." Asked about the opposition's charge of misuse of power by the AAP govt, Mann said, "If someone has joined the BJP, it doesn't mean he is above the law. They will have to face the law even if they make mistakes in the future. The BJP can give them security in other states, but Punjab won't do so." The opposition has accused the state govt of tightening the screws on the defectors with reports of two FIRs registered against Sandeep Pathak under non-bailable sections, the security cover for former cricketer Harbhajan Singh was withdrawn, and a pollution control raid on the business premises of MP Rajinder Gupta. Earlier, Mann had characterised the exodus as a "treachery" against the people of Punjab and recently won a confidence motion in the State Assembly to signal that his govt remains stable despite the desertions. On Friday, the AAP govt won a confidence motion in the state assembly to signal that the Mann-led govt remains stable despite the desertions in the Rajya Sabha. Mann said said he would carry along a copy of the confidence motion and demand a constitutional provision for recall. "Punjab will be first state to demand stricter anti-defection law or recall provision from President," he had said on Friday.
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