The politics of border state Punjab, also known as the food basket of India, are in a state of turmoil. In a major political development, two Punjab Cabinet Ministers and other among congress leaders have met Navjot Sidhu and it seems like they have ‘regrouped’ themselves to pressure the Congress government to fulfill its poll promises.
As per sources, Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, Technical Education Minister Charanjit Channi, and MLAs Fateh Jung Bajwa, Pargat Singh, Kushaldeep Dhillon, Balwinder Laddi and Barindermeet Singh Pahra, have met Navjot Sidhu at two different places in the past two days.
The leaders have reportedly discussed the Punjab Congress performance in the last four years and the poll promises which are yet to be fulfilled. Besides, there were also talks related to Congress Government’s failure in punishing the perpetrators of the sacrilege and subsequent police firing cases of Kotkapura, along with eliminating the transport and drug mining mafia from Punjab.
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It is pertinent to mention here that Navjot Singh Sidhu, ex-Minister and Congress MLA, has been unusually vocal recently and time and again he targeted Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh over its failure and delay in delivering justice in the sacrilege cases.
Following Sidhu’s footsteps, Cabinet minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who blamed the government for the delay in the case reaching its logical conclusion, resigned from his post in one of the cabinet meetings recently held. However, Captain Amarinder not only rejected this request but also tore his resignation letter.
Even state unit chief, Sunil Jakhar, announced in the then Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that he is sending his resignation to party President Sonia Gandhi over the issue.
Meanwhile, joining the group now is Charanjit Singh Channi, MLA from Chamkaur Sahib Assembly Constituency. Charanjit is also the Dalit face of Congress. It is being said that Sidhu, along with the two ministers – Sukhjinder and Charanjit – met at Pargat Singh’s residence in Jalandhar Cantt on May 6.
Now, this meeting is surprising. Political experts opine that these developments raise the question if Sidhu is beginning to get internal support from the Captain government?
Also, the political experts believe that Sidhu plans to upset the status quo of Punjab politics. Well, the Congress Party had framed charges of indiscipline against Sidhu and forwarded to Harish Rawat, ex-CM Uttarakhand and General Secretary, AICC, I/C Punjab PCC.
The tensions between the two, Navjot and Captain, escalated to such extent that the latter made a public challenge to the former to contest from Patiala while declaring that the doors of his party, Congress, have been closed for Navjot.
However, Navjot Sidhu is learnt to have told the party leaders that he would not leave the party at any cost, and all he wants is the Captain government to act on the promises made and deliver justice in the sacrilege cases.