San Francisco, California: Organisations and representatives of the Punjabi diaspora from different countries have expressed support for Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira amid the ongoing controversy surrounding government accommodation and the alleged role of AAP functionaries in Punjab’s affairs. Prominent members of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora, while speaking to Punjab Outlook, said that an elected MLA has a legitimate democratic responsibility to question the government on matters involving public property, government residences, public expenditure and administrative accountability.
The diaspora representatives said their support for Khaira is primarily linked to the questions of public interest that have emerged during the controversy. They said that political disagreements are normal in a democracy, but questions concerning government property and public money should ultimately be answered through official records, rules and transparent explanations.
The controversy intensified after Khaira raised questions about the occupation and use of government residences in Chandigarh by AAP functionaries. Reports have identified questions over who is officially allotted particular houses, who is actually staying there and under what authority such accommodation is being used. AAP leader Gayatri Bishnoi has separately said that she is staying with her parents at Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh’s official residence because her father is undergoing treatment, and she has rejected Khaira’s personal allegations.
The diaspora leaders said that the personal allegations should not become a distraction from the central administrative question: Who is authorised to occupy Punjab government accommodation, under what rules, and who bears the cost of such accommodation? They said these questions can be settled easily if the Punjab government makes the relevant allotment orders, permissions, occupancy details and applicable rules available to the public.
They further said that if Khaira’s allegations regarding any particular government residence are incorrect, the government should establish the facts through official documents. If any violation of government accommodation rules is found, the appropriate authorities should take action according to law. In their view, transparency is the appropriate answer to controversy.
The diaspora representatives also emphasised that supporting an MLA’s right to raise questions does not mean endorsing every statement made during a heated political exchange. They said that serious allegations should be supported by evidence and that personal remarks should not replace substantive discussion about public accountability.
“ਸੱਚ ਨੂੰ ਪਰਖਣ ਲਈ ਦਸਤਾਵੇਜ਼ ਚਾਹੀਦੇ ਨੇ, ਨਾਅਰੇ ਨਹੀਂ।” This, they said, should be the guiding principle in the present controversy.They also referred to the Punjabi literary tradition of speaking truth to power and standing with those who raise questions on behalf of society. As poet Waris Shah wrote:
“ਜਦੋਂ ਕਰਮ ਅੱਲਾਹ ਦਾ ਕਰੇ ਮੱਦਦ,
ਬੇੜਾ ਪਾਰ ਹੋ ਜਾਏ ਨਿਮਾਣਿਆਂ ਦਾ।”
— ਵਾਰਿਸ ਸ਼ਾਹ
The diaspora leaders said that public representatives should be judged on the facts they place before the people and on the questions they raise in the public interest. They said Punjab needs a political culture in which governments answer difficult questions with documents rather than allowing every controversy to become a personal confrontation.Quoting another popular Punjabi poetic sentiment, they added:
“ਉੱਠ ਜਾਗ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਸਿਆਂ—
ਸੁੱਤਿਆ ਚੋਰ ਘਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਵੜ ਗਏ।”
— ਸੁਖ ਬਰਾੜ
They said the verse reflects a broader public desire for vigilance and accountability, although the current political controversy itself must ultimately be settled through verifiable facts and official records.The diaspora organisations further stated that they would continue to monitor developments in the matter and support lawful, transparent and evidence-based efforts to seek accountability in Punjab. They said their position is not about personal hostility toward any individual or political party, but about the principle that government property belongs to the public and its use should be governed by clearly disclosed rules.
The representatives also conveyed to Sukhpal Singh Khaira that they would extend whatever lawful and democratic support they can provide in connection with the public-interest aspects of the controversy. They said that elected representatives who raise questions about public resources should be able to do so without intimidation, provided their allegations are made responsibly and supported by evidence.The message from the diaspora, they said, is therefore straightforward: let the records speak, let the government explain the rules, and let the public judge the facts.The controversy has now moved beyond a personal political exchange and into a broader discussion about government accommodation, public resources and accountability