The crisis in Punjab Congress is far from over. Amid new controversy over the compassionate appointments given to the sons of two sitting legislators, the Congress’ three-member panel has once again called Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to Delhi. Half a dozen Ministers, and equal number of MLAs, critical of the appointments, too have been called by the panel.
Amarinder has reached Delhi and is slated to meet the panel, headed by the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, with State party affairs’ in-charge Harish Rawat and former MP JP Aggarwal as its members, on Tuesday. He is likely interact with the Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi.
The meeting comes at a time when a new controversy has hit the State Congress unit, virtually dividing the party in vertical, following the Cabinet’s recent decision to appoint sons of two MLAs — Arjun Pratap Singh Bajwa (son of Qadian MLA Fatehjung Bajwa) as Punjab Police Inspector; and Bhisham Pandey (son of Ludhiana North MLA Rakesh Pandey) as Naib Tehsildar.
Also, the Chief Minister’s bête noire and rebel Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has once again opened a front against Capt Amarinder, started attacking him in open. Notably, even more than a week after the three members panel submitted its report to the high command, followed by rounds of meetings, the Congress top brass is yet to take the final call.
The party is yet to decide the suitable role for the former cricketer with the Chief Minister reportedly putting his foot down against his appointment as Punjab Congress chief but agreeing to appoint him as his deputy or a cabinet berth.
Sources said that the panel has not recommended Capt Amarinder’s removal as the Chief Minister, while recommending him to be the party’s face for next elections.
Besides the Chief Minister, sources have informed that six cabinet ministers, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Razia Sultana, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhbinder Singh Sarakaria, Chanrjit Singh Channi — have also been called for a meeting at the Delhi Durbar.
In addition, party legislators Pargat Singh, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Kuljit Singh Nagra, Kushaldeep Singh Kiki Dhillon, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, have also been summoned.
Available information suggests that the party high command wanted to have a last word with these leaders before taking a final call on the resolution of the party.
Also, majority of thee leaders have openly criticized the Government’s decision.
NEW CONTROVERSY
A new controversy has hit the party and the State Government over the Cabinet decision to give jobs to sons of two Congress MLAs on “compassionate grounds”, more than 30 years after their grandfathers were murdered by the terrorists.
Five Cabinet Ministers — Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Tripat Rajinder SIngh Bajwa, Razia Sultana, Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhbinder Singh Sarakaria, Chanrjit Singh Channi—have opposed the move.
Besides, Punjab congress president Sunil Jakhar, dubbing the decision as “wrong”, had requested the Chief Minister for its review. Other than that, Congress MLAs Kuljit Nagra, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Pargat Singh, Harjot Kamal, have also questioned the government’s move.
On the other hand, nine Cabinet ministers and four Congress MPs have backed the State Government’s decision, calling it “correct and in line with appointments given to similarly situated persons in the past”.
Defending the decision, Capt Amarinder had made it clear that there was “no question of rescinding the Punjab Cabinet decision on jobs for sons of two 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”.
