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.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters along with former Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram, Gandhi said: "The Prime Minister and the BJP said that the Congress had done nothing in last 70 years. There is a list here of all the assets that the Congress has helped build using the public money.
Accordingly, a special Air India flight from Kabul landed at the IGi airport here on Tuesday carrying 44 Afghan Sikhs, who brought three copies of Guru Granth Sahib with them.
Four dummy AK-47 rifles, 4 dummy pistols, combat uniforms and a Maruti car were recovered from the gang. Gold worth Rs 20 lakh and cash to the tune of Rs 3 lakh were also recovered from their possession.
This is the first time that women officers serving with the Corps of Signals, Corps of Electronic and Mechanical Engineers (EME) and the Corps of Engineers have been approved to the rank of Colonel.
The study titled "Third Wave Preparedness: Children Vulnerability and Recovery" has details about the possibility of Covid-affecting children and the required strategies to deal with the pandemic.
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management committee and SAD leader Manjinder S. Sirsa said, "3 Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Indian passport holders will arrive in India today. We thank GoI & PM Modi for helping Hindus-Sikhs in Afghanistan. We're in touch with minorities in Kabul who wish to be evacuated."
