Giving final shape to the truce formula to resolve crisisin the state unit, newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congree Committee (Chief)Navjot Singh Sidhu, on Friday finally assumed charge of the office. Along withhim, four new working presidents of the organizational structure took charge inChandigarh.
Although, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh was part of theformal event however, the cold war between the two leaders was visible as thelatter did not issue a public apology for making ‘derogratory remarks’ against him.
Addressing the public at coronation ceremony, Sidhu onceagain did not leave any stone unturned to take dig at his own government.
Though two leaders, who shared the stage for the firsttime in nearly four months, were seen sitting together at the installationceremony, bitterness among the two was also visible during the event duringwhich they did not share even a single word.
To address the public at the coronation ceremony, thenewly appointed Chief stood up from his seat and without cognizing Capt, wenton to seek blessings of the party’s veteran leaders and began his new innings.
On the stage, Sidhu did not leave any stone unturned totake dig at his own government especially at Punjab CM and said, “Those whooppose me, improve me.”
While addressing the party workers Sidhu saidPresidentship was not an issue for him as his real issues were sacrilege,protesting farmers, protesting unemployed teachers, protesting doctors andnurses, and other burning issues, which was creating a sense ofuncertainly among the people of the state.
Sidhu said “My fights are not the issue, the farmerssitting in Delhi, the protesting TET qualified teachers, the problems ofdoctors and nurses and bus conductors are the real issues”.
On the flip side, Capt Amarinder Singh started on a ‘cordialnote’ and reminiscences his ties with Sidhu’s family.
"I was commissioned in the Army, the year Sidhu wasborn. When my mother asked me to enter politics, his (Sidhu) father helped me.I used to go to his house when he was about six years old," said AmarinderSingh.
Endingspeculations of differences between him and Sidhu, Amarinder Singh said,"We (Sidhu and Amarinder Singh) will work together for Punjab. Not justfor Punjab, but for India. We share a long border with Pakistan...Pakistan,China and now with America's departure, Taliban in Afghanistan, all of them aregoing to come and sit at Kashmir's border, Punjab's border," the ChiefMinister said.
Today’sevent however, stirs another row for the Punjab Congress as the peace formulaintroduced by the High Command does not seem to be withstanding. Assembly Elections in the state are just seven months away, Sidhu's installation as party chief means the fight is still on as he did not comply to the conditions laid by Capt Amarinder Singh.
ThoughCapt Amarinder and Navjot Sidhu had shared the same stage to send out a messagethat the problems have been resolved, sources in political circles say that theunease which was evident at the event among the Sidhu-Capt camps is indicatinga beginning of yet another round of infighting.
Sourcessay the two will again have differences when the party will decide on the ticket distributionprocess for the upcoming elections. “Sidhu will try to fit in his close MLAsand friends, particularly who supported him by backing the party's decision ofappointing him as PPCC President, while Capt Amarinder might oppose hisdecisions”, they said.