Wiped out in Punjab but Cong internal rift widens with demand for action against Sidhu
Darpan News Desk IANS, 02 May, 2022 11:10 AM
New Delhi, May 2 (IANS) The Congress state in-charge of Punjab has written to party president Sonia Gandhi for action against former state party president Navjot Singh Sidhu for speaking against the party line. The letter written by Harish Chaudhary says that Sidhu can't be allowed to portray himself above the party.
In the letter he said, "I am forwarding Shri Raja Warring's detailed note regarding Shri Sidhu's current activities along with this letter." He wrote that Sidhu's actions are inexcusable and he should be asked for an explanation and disciplinary action should be initiated.
The Congress was wiped out in the Punjab elections due to the internal rift. After the unceremonious exit of former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and the party's mauling the Congress relied on the feedback of Navjot Singh Sidhu who was against Singh. Later the Congress ignored Sidhu to make Charanjit Singh Channi the Chief Minister, irking both Sunil Jakhar and Sidhu and all were speaking in different voices during the state elections. The Congress has taken action against Jakhar recently.
Sonia Gandhi, on the recommendation of the Congress disciplinary committee, has stripped Sunil Jakhar of all posts and he will not be given any post till two years. After this decision Jakhar has been more vocal on the issue.
While Sunil Jakhar had spoken about former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, his comments have offended the Dalit leaders in the party, and Udit Raj had demanded his expulsion. "Mr Sunil Jhakhar, Punjab Cong leader, must be expelled from the Party for his casteist & feudal comment that Mr Channi, being lowest caste, couldn't have been made CM. His place is on his feet instead of on head."
Acceding to the major demand of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Channi said the foundation stone of a convention centre for PITEX spread over 10 acres would be laid within a week to enable the organisation to carry out diverse range of activities to promote trade and industry in the region in a big way.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday informed the Lok Sabha that Punjab had reported four deaths due to shortage of Oxygen during the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
Welcoming the leaders in the party, Shekhawat said that the BJP will be strengthened in Punjab. "They have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and they will strengthen the organisation in the state. BJP is moving ahead in Punjab and will create a new history," he said, noting all the new joinees are prominent names in their respective fields.
Sharing details, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Iqbal Preet Singh Sahota said keeping in view the recent recoveries of RDX, hand grenades and pistols from the border district, strong barricading has been done.
The BJP, which is likely to contest the Punjab assembly polls on its own for the first time after its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) walked away, will be banking on leaders from the opposition parties and prominent personalities to make its electoral presence felt in the state. In the last assembly polls in 2017, the BJP had won only three out of the 23 seats it contested.
Slamming Amarinder Singh for his "myopic" mindset towards the poor, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi said on Friday that the former CM targeted him because he had raised issues of the common man.
