Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has been once again caught in a controversy following the Punjab cabinet’s decision to give two state government jobs to sons of Congress MLAs.
Addressing a press conference in a private hotel here in Jalandhar today, MLA Pargat Singh questioned the appointment of sons of legislators Fateh Jung Bajwa and Rakesh Pandey as Inspector and Naib Tehsildar, respectively, on compassionate grounds by tweaking rules.
He said there are many meritorious candidates giving days and nights to qualify competitive exams, however, on the other side, the sons of legislators getting jobs on compassionate grounds. “This is purely horse-trading, and is sending out a wrong message in the public. The parameters must be the same for all the candidates”, Pargat added.
He further said that audacity of CM Capt Amarinder Singh must be appreciated as despite the decision being opposed by five Cabinet ministers, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and among other MLAs, the CM was adamant over its decision and giving justification for the same.
Also Read: ‘Jobs to sons of Cong MLAs a recognition of their families sacrifices’, says Punjab CM
He said that five Cabinet Ministers including Sukhjinder Randhawa, Sukhbinder Sarkaria, Charanjit Channi, Tript Rajinder Bajwa and Razia Sultana, had earlier pointed out that appointing son of an affluent MLA was setting a wrong perception when there were more deserving persons, including genuinely poor families of former party MLAs and the kin of party workers who had been killed by terrorists.
He further said that the decision must be taken back otherwise the party will have to face adverse repercussions.
Speaking on the issue of Capt Vs Sidhu, Pargat said there is no personal enmity between Punjab CM Capt Amarinder and former minister Navjot Sidhu, the two are having difference of opinions which is common in democracy.
Also Read: How Congress will face assembly elections in UP, Punjab amid internal feud?
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s office has clearly stated the CM's stand on the decision. Media Adviser Raveen Thukral on Saturday tweeted, "No question of rescinding Punjab Cabinet decision on jobs for sons of 2 Congress MLAs. It is just a small token of gratitude and compensation for the sacrifices of their families. It's shameful that some people are giving political colour to this decision”.