After the news of Navjot Singh Sidhu becoming state president circulated, there has been a sharp reaction from the Congress leaders, including Manish Tewari, who has batted for a non-Sikh state president.
Tewari in an early morning tweet on Friday said, "Demographics of Punjab -- Sikhs: 57.75%, Hindus: 38.49%, Dalits: 31:94% (Sikh&Hindus), Punjab is both progressive & Secular..."
"...But balancing social interest groups is key to equality," he said, and also added a graph showing the religious composition in Punjab.
Directly targeting Navjot Sidhu, Tewari said that Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh was the Sikh face in Punjab and if Sidhu became the president, the head of the organization would also be the Sikh face. Tiwari quotes that Hindu, who is having a sizeable chunk of 38.49 percent of the total population of the state, should be given representation to one of the key posts. It is clear that Tewari, like the CM, is not happy with the political equation.
He tweeted that Hindus and Sikhs have a close relationship but equality in Punjab is the foundation of social justice. Apparently, Tewari is rejecting the Sikh face as the president of the Congress party. He is directly referring to the Hindu or Dalit face who should be appointed as the President of the Congress Party.
The reaction came after Harish Rawat said, "The party is working on a formula to appoint two working presidents and elections will be fought under the leadership of the Chief Minister," later Rawat met Sonia Gandhi and said there is no official announcement.
The speculation of changes in the state Congress came in the wake of Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat's statement that it may take some time, but to balance the equation in the state, the party is working on a formula to appoint Navjot Singh Sidhu in a prominent position, while asserting that Amarinder Singh has already said that he will abide by the party high command's decision.
Also Read: Punjab Congress Crisis: Sonia Gandhi summons Navjot Sidhu to Delhi, what next?
"The party is working on a formula to appoint two working presidents and elections will be fought under the leadership of the Chief Minister," said Rawat.