Ahead of Harish Rawat's visit to Punjab, factionalism escalates in Cong
Darpan News Desk IANS, 30 Aug, 2021 12:13 PM
New Delhi, Aug 30 (IANS) Ahead of Congress General Secretary Harish Rawat's visit to Punjab to de-escalate tension between the two factions, the Navjot Singh Sidhu's camp has opened a front against Rawat and challenged his statement on Amarinder.
In a statement, Punjab Congress General Secretary Pargat Singh had posed a challenge that Harish Rawat should tell when it was decided that Punjab elections will be fought under the leadership of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
"Election will be fought under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi," Pargat Singh said.
Harish Rawat had met Rahul Gandhi on Saturday and briefed him about the situation there which has arisen after the statement of Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Rawat is scheduled to visit Punjab in a day or two and will talk to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and state president Navjot Singh Sidhu and sort out the issues arising out of the differences between the two leaders.
Rawat had on Friday met interim President Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the situation in the state.
"Punjab situation is under control... I have apprised her about the situation in the state," he told reporters after the meeting.
Sidhu speaking at a party function in Amritsar last week had said, "If he is allowed to work according to his own policy of hope and faith, he will ensure the Congress rule in the state for 20 years.
"But if you won't let me take decisions, eint naal eint bi kharkaonga (it will be disastrous for the party). There's no point in becoming a showpiece," Sidhu had said without mincing words.
Speaking about the Punjab model, Sidhu said, "Punjab model means people make policies for trade, industry and power. Giving power back to the people."
The meeting happened in wake of some "rebel" MLAs seeking time from Sonia Gandhi to press for the removal of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
Rawat has been facing a tough task to balance both sides in Punjab as Sidhu and Amarinder Singh are at loggerheads.
Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh's confidante and Cabinet minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi hosted a dinner at his residence on Thursday.
A total of 58 MLAs and eight MPs attended the dinner and expressed confidence that the party would win the 2022 polls under the leadership of Amarinder Singh. "The journey has started today," Sodhi informed in a tweet.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday evening ordered withdrawal of all power regulatory restrictions that were imposed on industries across the state to meet the power crisis.
The Chief Minister also ordered opening of bars, cinema halls, restaurants, spas, swimming pools, gyms, malls, sports complexes, museums, zoos, etc., subject to all eligible staff members and visitors having taken at least one dose each of the vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday received the first copy of the book ‘The Ramayana of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, penned by late Baljit Kaur Tulsi, the mother of noted lawyer K.T.S. Tulsi.
Two Pakistani terrorists were killed and two soldiers martyred after an infiltration bid was foiled by the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, army officials said on Thursday.
Former UN Environment Executive Director Erik Solheim on Thursday hailed the elevation of Hardeep Puri as he takes charge of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at a time when India will go through a major transformation to a green economy.
