A day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted regular bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Sanour, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, in a rape case registered in Patiala district in September last year, he walked out of the Central Jail in Bathinda on Sunday.
Speaking to the media outside the jail, the MLA said if the state government fulfilled the genuine demands of his constituency and undertook meaningful development works, he was ready to stand with it and make every sacrifice for the people.
Notably, he was arrested in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh on March 25.
Pathanmajra alleged that he had been falsely implicated in cases and jailed for raising issues concerning his constituency. He claimed that he had highlighted problems related to water supply and other public concerns before the government, but instead of addressing those demands, action was initiated against him.
“If the government fulfils the genuine demands of my constituency and undertakes meaningful development works, including water supply, cleanliness of drains and acquisition of land for this purpose, I am ready to stand with it and make every sacrifice for the people. The party had even contacted me. However, I told the party that I could do so only if the state government released funds for the development of the constituency. I asked them how I would be able to walk with the party again and face my people if nothing was given to the constituency. If development works are initiated, at least I will be able to tell the public that although I faced difficulties, I secured something for the constituency in return," he said.
The MLA said the government was powerful and should work according to the wishes of those elected by the people, rather than arresting MLAs who raise issues concerning their areas.
He added, “When a constituency-in-charge was appointed in my constituency, I had said at that time too that if the government was ready to release funds for the constituency, I would tender my resignation."
“I say the government should work for the people, not indulge in politics to arrest its own legislators, diminish their value and settle political scores. I won the election by a margin of nearly 50,000 votes. I lived a life worse than that of an ordinary citizen here. I was not allowed to meet anyone in jail except my son,” said Pathanmajra.
When asked about his future in the AAP, Pathanmajra avoided making any immediate announcement and said, “I will chalk out my future strategy in consultation with the people of my constituency."
He, however, claimed that other parties had approached him. He reiterated that public interest and the aspirations of his constituents would remain central to any future move.
Pathanmajra further alleged that the cases registered against him lacked supporting evidence.
“I am entangled in a case involving a crime that I have not committed. This is very unfortunate. Even in the mining case, not even two witnesses have appeared against me in the past year," he said.
The MLA also accused the party’s Delhi and state leadership of orchestrating action against him without justification.
Pathanmajra, however, appeared annoyed with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that if his relative (Chief Minister) had wanted to intervene, he could have called him to the Chief Minister’s residence and sought an explanation or apology.
“These allegations that I facilitated a meeting of 15 AAP MLAs to join the BJP in Delhi are false. I have always remained loyal to every party that I have been associated with so far in my political career," he claimed.
“I ask them what they (party leadership) are afraid of. First, there was the mining case, and now action has been taken on a woman’s complaint," he added.
Following his release, Pathanmajra said he would visit Baba Budha Sahib to pay obeisance along with his supporters. A large number of supporters and family members had gathered to welcome him.
