CHANDIGARH/DEHRADUN: Spelling a setback for dissident Punjab Congress leaders seeking the ouster of Capt Amarinder Singh as chief minister, AICC Punjab in-charge and former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat made it plain on Wednesday that the 2022 state assembly polls would be contested under Amarinder’s command.
Rawat said this after a group of senior party members, comprising four ministers and three MLAs regarded to be close to Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu, held a two-hour emergency meeting with him to “inform him about the feelings and grievances of party members and people of the state”.
Rawat said the concerns of the ministers and MLAs were “serious in nature and important for the party,” and assured that their grievances would be conveyed to the Congress high command.
Those who reached Dehradun on Wednesday morning included rural development and panchayats minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, jails and cooperation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
He added that Congress leaders stand by their commitment made to the people of Punjab and have urged the high command to stand by party leaders for the fulfillment of those promises before the next elections.
‘MLAs sought clear roadmap for polls to ensure Cong win’
Technical education and industrial training minister Charanjit Singh Channi, revenue minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, and MLAs Kulbir Singh (Zira), Barindermeet Singh Pahra (Gurdaspur) and Surjit Singh Dhiman (Amargarh) were also part of the group.
Claiming that there was no threat to the government in Punjab or the party, Rawat said he would leave for Delhi in a day or two to discuss the Punjab legislators’ grievances with the senior leadership. To a question on whether Punjab leaders raised the issue of change of chief minister, Rawat replied that whatever details were discussed between him and Punjab leaders cannot be disclosed to the media. It is learnt that Rawat expressed his displeasure over the disgruntled Congress leaders washing their dirty linen in public, rather than voicing their grievances at a party platform, especially with barely six months to go for the state assembly polls.
“They also discussed some grievances about the functioning of the state as well as the district administration. It is a very serious issue if any Congress MLA feels insecure that the administration can work for his defeat or against him,” said Rawat.
“They said that they were not here to oppose any individual. The MLAs sought a clear roadmap for the 2022 polls to ensure a win for the party in the next elections,” Rawat added.
The Congress veteran asserted that tussle between individuals should not act as a stumbling block for the party and emphasised that it was with great effort that the party had tried to create an environment of hope and trust in Punjab and urged all party leaders to not damage it.
On controversial statements made by Sidhu’s advisers, he made it clear that Congress has nothing to do with Sidhu’s advisers, and if there is any damage to the party, there should be appropriate action against such persons and Sidhu has been asked to control his advisers.
The AICC Punjab incharge termed the “sudden” visit of Congress MLAs to Dehradun as part and parcel of politics. “These MLAs had met Sidhu on Tuesday. Sidhu has been given the responsibility of the party unit in Punjab, but it does not mean that there are no other leaders. We have senior leaders like Amarinder Singh, Pratap Singh Bajwa, Ambika Soni, and Sukhwinder Randhawa, and all work together for the party. A situation has arisen and we will find a solution to it,” said Rawat.
Delegation satisfied with assurance
After meeting Rawat, Channi said, “We have come to Rawat with Punjab’s issues which have not been resolved till now and he has assured us theat he will take up our issues with the party high command.” Claiming that their delegation represented all Punjab Congress leaders and party workers, Channi said they were returning to Chandigarh satisfied with Rawat’s assurance and they will reach Delhi if the party high command calls them. He added that Congress leaders stand by their commitment made to the people of Punjab and have urged the high command to stand by party leaders for the fulfillment of those promises before the next elections.
Preneet attacks Sidhu
While the Punjab CM has not yet reacted to the ‘revolt’ in the Congress, his wife and Patiala MP Preneet Kaur attacked state Congress president Navjot Sidhu and his advisers on Wednesday, blaming them for the current crisis. Asked about the demand for the CM’s ouster, she replied that it is the prerogative of the party high command and a CM cannot be changed on the demand of a few persons.
