But media adviser of Punjab ex-CM says he discussed farmers’ agitation

Amidst political turmoil in poll-bound Punjab, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, setting off political speculation about his next course of action. Singh had an hour-long meeting with Shah, however, he refused to comment whether he would join the BJP.

The visit after his assertion on Tuesday that he would be meeting “any political leader” in the national Capital, came amid reports that Singh, 79, may be inclined to an offer to join the BJP or strike an alliance with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after floating a regional outfit.

While both Singh and Shah did not comment on the purpose of the meeting, Singh’s media adviser said that the former Punjab CM met the Home Minister to discuss the ongoing farmers’ agitation against the three controversial farm laws.

“Met Union Home Minister @Amit Shah in Delhi. Discussed the prolonged farmers’ agitation against #Farms Laws & urged him to resolve the crisis urgently with the repeal of the laws & guarantee MSP, besides supporting Punjab in crop diversification,” he tweeted.

The BJP is on a weak wicket in Punjab with an election battle in the border State. The saffron party is keen to woo the former Punjab Chief Minister after he was asked to step down in favour of new leadership. After his exit,

Singh had said he was “humiliated” at the hands of the Congress high command.

Singh has been alleging that instability in Punjab may give Pakistan a handle to create disturbance in the border State. He has also accused his bête noire  Navjot Singh Sidhu of being “close to (Pakistan Prime Minister) Imran Khan” and alleged that he is “dangerous” for the border State.

He also said he would “exercise his options when the time comes”. Besides, alluding to Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra, he said they are “inexperienced”.

Joining hands with Singh would give the BJP the much-needed political clout in Punjab which it lost following the Akali Dal’s exit from the NDA in protest against three central farm laws.

After reaching Delhi, the former Punjab CM had claimed that his visit does not involve meeting any political leader.

“I have come to Delhi to vacate the Kapurthala House for the new Chief Minister (Charanjit Singh Channi)”, he had said.

The sources said the veteran Congress leader may also meet some of the “Group of 23” leaders, including Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad.