The recent statement made by the former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader Rajinder Kaur Bhattal has stirred a new controversy in the Punjab political landscape. Bhattal has made a sensational claim while talking about the days when she was in power. She claims that when she was the Chief Minister of Punjab, she was offered with an extremely nefarious proposal that would ensure her government’s re-election. Allegedly, Bhattal was made an offer by some officials claiming that they would create terror in the state by carrying out bombings in various locations such as trains, markets etc to intimidate the public. This fear mongering then would help to manipulate the voting process in Bhattal’s favour.
However, in her statement Bhattal has made it clear that she categorically rejected the proposal. Bhattal says that as soon as the officials presented her with this proposal, she immediately put a full stop on this discussion. She made it clear that she would never to politics over dead bodies at any cost. Talking further about this she adds that she made it very clear to the officials that even if any minor incidents occur before the then scheduled elections, the officials would be directly held responsible and action would be taken against them. Bhattal further says that officials give all sorts of advices to the Chief Minister but it is solely upon the CM whether or not to accept these proposals. When such advice was given to her, she made sure that she reprimanded them.
Rajinder Kaur Bhattal is the former Punjab Chief Minister and Congress leader who served as the CM from November 21, 1996 to February 1917. Bhattal was also the first female to sit on the chair of Punjab Chief Minister. She was the 14th Chief Minister of Punjab also served as 2nd Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab from 2004 to 2007. Talking about her personal life, Bhattal was born in 1945. Her parents Hira Singh Bhattal and Harnam Kaur were freedom fighters who fought against the British rule.
After the sensational remarks made by the former Chief Minister a political turmoil can be sensed. Various parties and their leaders have come forward and given their two cents about the whole situation. Leaders have commented how the statement made by her show the things that happen behind the curtains and a demand for an investigation to be conducted regarding this is also gaining momentum.