Chandigarh,August 24
Sevenof the 20-odd Punjab Congress MLAs and ex-MLAs, who were purported to have beenparty to the demand for the removal of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh,have completely and categorically disassociated themselves from any such move.
Denyingoutright being part of what they termed as ‘a conspiracy hatched by a sectionengaged in trying to drive a wedge within the party’, these seven leaders havethrown their weight behind the Chief Minister and reposed their full faith inhis leadership.
ThePunjab Congress leaders who have distanced themselves for the so-calledfestering revolt in the party are: Kuldeep Vaid (MLA), Dalvir Singh Goldie(MLA), Santokh Singh Bhalaipur (MLA),
AjitSingh Mofar (ex MLA), Angad Singh (MLA), Raja Warring (MLA) and Gurkirat SinghKotli (MLA).
Theirdenial came within hours of a list of party MLAs/ex-MLAs being made public by asection of the Punjab Congress, which claimed that these leaders wanted thereplacement of Captain Amarinder Singh and intended taking up the matter withthe high command. These seven party leaders have, however, washed their handsoff any such decision and declared that they continue to stand firmly with theChief Minister.
Allseven of them said the closed door meeting held at Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa’sresidence, after which their names were fraudulently released along withothers, had been convened to discuss party affairs. Some of the participantstried to raise the issue of the Chief Minister’s replacement but, contrary toclaims, no unanimous resolution was passed or agreed upon. Taking strong exception to the misuse oftheir names in this manner, these seven made it clear that they do notsubscribe to any such move against Captain Amarinder.
Mofar,in fact, said he did not even attend the said meeting and had merely gone tomeet one of the cabinet ministers present there. He said he was shocked to seehis name being touted as one of those seeking Captain Amarinder’s removal. Vaidmade it clear he was “not part of any such conspiracy against the ChiefMinister,”, while Goldie firmly put his might behind Captain Amarinder. Angadsaid he had gone to the meeting to discuss cooperative elections in hisconstituency, and Warring said he was not even aware of any such discussionbeing held during the meeting. Bhalaipur and Kotli also denied any talk of theChief Minister’s replacement taking place at the meeting, and added that therewas no question of being party to such a demand.
Allseven of them condemned the attempts by a section of the Punjab Congress totrigger revolt in the party ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, especiallywhen the high command had already resolved the differences between Sidhu andCaptain Amarinder. With the polls just months away, the party needs to workunitedly, as one integrated whole, and not fritter away its political advantageby indulging in petty politicking to promote personal vested interests, theysaid.
Theyurged the party leadership to take immediate steps to quell any attempts todivide the party