BJP has dismissed the opposition meeting as a mere photo-session.

New Delhi:

Even as the Opposition parties’ press conference projecting unity after the 16-party meeting in Patna was on, the Aam Aadmi Party dropped a bombshell saying it will not be part of any future Opposition gatherings that include the Congress until the party publicly opposes the Centre’s contentious ordinance on the control of administrative services in Delhi. 

A statement issued by AAP said, “Congress’ hesitation and refusal to act as a team player, especially on an issue as important as this one, will make it very difficult for the AAP to be a part of any alliance that includes Congress.”

“Until the Congress publicly denounces the Black Ordinance and declares that all 31 of its RS MPs will oppose the ordinance in the Rajya Sabha, it will be difficult for AAP to participate in future meetings of like-minded parties where the Congress is a participant,” the statement added. 

The party said the Congress needs to decide whether it is with the people of Delhi or the Modi government. 

Pointing out that the Congress takes a stand on almost all issues but is yet to make its position on the “Black Ordinance” public, the statement added, “However, the Congress’ Delhi and Punjab units have announced that the party should support the Modi government on this issue.”

AAP said that during the Opposition meeting today, many parties urged the Congress to publicly denounce the ordinance, but it refused to do so. 

The party’s statement came after there were sharp exchanges between the Congress and the AAP during the meeting in Bihar’s Patna, sources said. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal sought the grand old party’s stand on the ordinance issue.  Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge raised AAP Chief Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar’s allegation that the Congress is not taking a stand because of a deal with the BJP. 

Ms Kakkar told NDTV minutes ahead of the meeting that they have come to know from reliable sources that “there is a consensus between Congress and BJP” which is why the Congress is not opposing the ordinance.

Congress has repeatedly said the big meeting was not the occasion for such issues, and that they decide on such issues ahead of Parliament sessions.

“Opposing it or proposing it does not happen outside, it happens in Parliament. Before Parliament begins, all parties decide what issues they have to work on together. They know it, and even their leaders come to our all-party meetings. I don’t know why is there so much publicity about it outside,” Mr Kharge had said on reaching Patna.

The Patna meet was the first time several parties averse to the Congress due to regional rivalry shared a stage.