Amarinder likely to meet Sonia Gandhi amid infighting in Punjab
Darpan News Desk IANS, 05 Jul, 2021 11:05 AM
New Delhi, July 5 (IANS) Amid escalating infighting in Punjab Congress, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is likely to meet Sonia Gandhi and apprise his side of the story to the interim Congress President.
The proposed meeting comes in the backdrop of the suggestions made by the Congress high command to the Punjab government and changes in the state unit of the party, days after disgruntled Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu met Rahul Gandhi.
After Sidhu met Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi separately last week, there is a speculation that Priyanka Gandhi has suggested Sidhu's name as the Punjab Congress chief. However, Amarinder Singh and some of the other factions in the party are not accepting this formula.
Sources said that Punjab leaders may accept him as the working president, but not as a full-fledged state unit chief as the Chief Minister is keen on having a non-Sikh face as the state Congress President.
The Punjab in-charge for Congress, Harish Rawat, had said that it's a good sign that Rahul Gandhi has met the former-cricketer-turned politician, adding that the issue is likely to be resolved around next week.
Meanwhile, Amarinder Singh had called the MLAs supporting him for lunch in Chandigarh the day Sidhu left for Delhi and and is believed to have discussed the future strategy.
The move had reportedly upset the party high command, which viewed it as a show of strength, especially after the panel formed by the Congress to look into the Punjab issue said that there is no question of removing the Chief Minister.
The police are not taking chances with the inflammatory situation and sufficient force has been deployed to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.
Suspected terrorists shot dead a J&K Police constable near his residence in Srinagar on Thursday night, sources said. Sources said the incident happened at Saidpora in the city.
The victim, Zile Singh, had been actively involved in serving food to farmers at the protest site on the Khatkar toll plaza for several months. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Bittu stirred up a row after he said the 'sacred' seats of Anandpur Sahib and Chamkaur Sahib have been given to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)
On Sunday, 61 young men and women were arrested by the Noida police from a farmhouse located in Sector-135 for partying and violating Covid-19 protocols. The Noida police also recovered expensive liquor and beer bottles from the spot.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Tuesday directed the health authorities to start vaccination of teachers, non-teaching staff and students in 18-45 age group from all schools and colleges from June 21, to enable educational institutions in the state to open safely.
