The Punjab Government, it appears, is heading for yet another face-off with Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has summoned the Deputy Commissioners and the Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of all districts to Chandigarh for attending a high-level meeting on the day the Governor is scheduled to visit the border districts.

Protocol demands that both Deputy Commissioner and the SSP, have to remain present whenever the Governor visits the districts.

Notably, Governor Purohit will begin his two-day visit to border districts covering Gurdaspur, Pathankot, and Amritsar on the first day — that is February 1; and Ferozepur and Fazilka on February 2.

Having visited the border districts in the past also and highlighting several important issues, including drugs and illegal mining, the Governor had planned his another visit to the border districts much before. The district-level officers have been asked to be prepared with the status and action taken reports related to the issues raised and orders given by the Governor during his previous visits.

On the other hand, the Chief Minister — only a few days back — convened a meeting of all DCs and SSPs to discuss district-related issues.

Sources informed The Pioneer that all the district officers have been asked to prepare the status reports of the development works in their respective districts and other issues related to their districts.

The entire series of events has put the district officers, especially DCs and SSPs of these border districts, in a quandary — whether to attend the Chief Minister’s meeting in Chandigarh or remain present in their districts during the Governor’s visit.

As per the schedule, the Governor will be holding meetings with the panchayats, and prominent residents, listening to the grievances, and redressing them.

This is not the first time that Punjab Governor Purohit and Chief Minister Mann have come face-to-face against one another over issues related to the state and governance.