The ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab Monday sought to distance itself from senior leader Manish Sisodia’s alleged ‘saam, daam, dand, bhed’ remarks about the 2027 Assembly elections with Cabinet minister and state unit chief Aman Arora saying it was not the “party ideology” and asserted that they believe in seeking votes on the basis of the works done.Still smarting from the embarrassment that it suffered after being forced to withdraw the contentious Punjab Land Pooling Policy-2025, the ruling AAP landed in a fresh row when the Opposition parties, including the Congress, the BJP and the SAD, on August 16 shared a video clip in which Sisodia was purportedly heard asking party’s women’s wing leaders, “2027 ka chunaav jitvaane ke liye, saam, daam, dand, bhed, sach, jhooth, question, answer, laraai, jhagda jo karna padega karenge.. taiyyar hain josh ke saath? (To win the 2027 elections, we will do whatever it may take. Are you ready?)”. Sisodia, the party in-charge for Punjab, purportedly made the remarks during AAP’s women’s wing leadership training programme on August 13.Speaking to media after inducting two Congress councillors of Amritsar Municipal Corporation into AAP fold, Arora said Sisodia’s remarks were not party’s line. “The video, which you are talking about, is not the party’s ideology. Arvind Kejriwal has always given a message that we will go to the public, knock on their doors and will seek votes on the basis of development works undertaken by the Bhagwant Mann government. Our policy is that we go to the court of people with folds hands,” Arora said.Arora claimed that Sisodia’s remarks “has been projected out of context by the Opposition”, but added that “sometimes, some statements spark controversies”.Asked whether the AAP is distancing itself from Sisodia’s statement, Arora said, “In individual capacity, I am saying that it is neither Kejriwal’s ideology nor the party’s ideology and perhaps Sisodia’s ideology as well. This thing has been blown out of context”.“No individual is a full-fledged party. Aman Arora is part of the party, not the whole party. Be it our mayor saab, CM Saab or our honourable party in-charge, no individual is a full-fledged party on their own; he or she is part of the party,” he added.Earlier, the AAP’s women wing president and Moga MLA Dr Amandeep Kaur, who was also in attendance at the Mohali event, said that the Opposition, which has “no other agenda against the AAP government”, was creating a mountain out of a molehill.Story continues below this ad“Sisodia’s remarks are being presented out of context. That one line has been extracted from his entire speech and made viral. That’s because Opposition has nothing else against us. We aren’t the Akali Dal or the BJP, which together introduced drugs and gangsters in Punjab. Congress was the architect of the 1984 anti-Sikh genocide, so it should not even speak on something related to violence. The AAP is only cleaning up their 75-year mess. We are working solely for Punjab’s peace and prosperity, which is something they cannot digest. Give one instance where the AAP’s actions led to any violence in Punjab,” Kaur had told The Indian Express.The AAP was looking to brazen out the storm created by Sisodia’s remarks. A senior party leader had told The Indian Express in the morning, “We are not bothered. Sisodia, while speaking at the function, was like a General of his army filling his men with zeal and vigour. What is there to read? The Opposition is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill.”During the day, a party spokesperson had said, “We will not say anything. The issue will die its own death. We are not going to add weight to Opposition clamour by reacting to it. Let the opposition speak whatever they want to”.Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, meanwhile, appealed to the Election Commission to derecognise AAP, accusing it of seeking to secure an electoral victory in the 2027 Punjab assembly polls through “corrupt, unconstitutional and illegal means aimed at disturbing the peace in the State”.Story continues below this adThe SAD president, in a letter to the chief election commissioner, said Sisodia had allegedly “incited” the AAP cadre to indulge in “corrupt and violent practices” during a recent party meeting which was attended by CM Mann and Aman Arora. He said Sisodia had, in a speech on the occasion, encouraged the AAP cadre to go all out and engage in “falsehoods, deceptive promises, illegal gratification of voters and even violence to influence the electoral outcome in Punjab”. He said that such utterances called for immediate action.The SAD president also submitted that Punjab had endured a decade of militancy, from which it emerged through concerted efforts, including those led by leaders such as Late Sant Harchand Singh Longowal and Parkash Singh Badal, who fostered communal harmony amongst its populace. “External elements like Manish Sisodia are now propelling the state towards anarchy and communal discord by exhorting AAP cadres to adopt violent measures to prevail in forthcoming elections,” he alleged.He said an FIR should be registered against Sisodia for offences under the Representation of People’s Act. Badal said such conduct qualified as a corrupt practice and warranted disqualification from contesting elections under Section 8 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, which provides for disqualification upon conviction for offences including those under Sections 123(1), 123(2) and 123(3A) of the RPA, 1951, or other specified enactments, for a period ranging from six years or more.He said the conduct was also in violation of the guidelines issued by the ECI in exercise of powers under Article 324 of the Constitution for the registration of political parties which states that the party will not in any manner promote or instigate or participate in violence.Story continues below this adEarlier, Punjab BJP chief Jakhar on Saturday shot off a letter to the Election Commission, alleging that Sisodia advocated winning elections “by hook or by crook, thus promoting undemocratic methods and violating the law. These remarks mock the values of peace, freedom and integrity, clearly indicating the AAP’s intention to “undermine” the democratic process, he alleged. Jakhar had also demanded the filing of an FIR against Sisodia for his remarks, and sought barring the AAP leader from contesting any future elections or giving political or public speeches, alleging his behaviour “poses a serious threat to the sanctity of elections, social unity, and the democratic framework”.