The politics of border state Punjab, also known as the foodbasket of India, are in a state of turmoil. In a major political development,two Punjab Cabinet Ministers and other among congress leaders have met NavjotSidhu and it seems like they have ‘regrouped’ themselves to pressure theCongress government to fulfill its poll promises.
As per sources, Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa,Technical Education Minister Charanjit Channi, and MLAs Fateh Jung Bajwa,Pargat Singh, Kushaldeep Dhillon, Balwinder Laddi and Barindermeet Singh Pahra,have met Navjot Sidhu at two different places in the past two days.
The leaders have reportedly discussed the Punjab Congressperformance in the last four years and the poll promises which are yet to befulfilled. Besides, there were also talks related to Congress Government’sfailure in punishing the perpetrators of the sacrilege and subsequent policefiring cases of Kotkapura, along with eliminating the transport and drug miningmafia from Punjab.
It is pertinent to mention here that Navjot Singh Sidhu,ex-Minister and Congress MLA, has been unusually vocal recently and time andagain he targeted Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh over its failure and delayin delivering justice in the sacrilege cases.
Following Sidhu’s footsteps, Cabinet minister SukhjinderSingh Randhawa, who blamed the government for the delay in the case reachingits logical conclusion, resigned from his post in one of the cabinet meetingsrecently held. However, Captain Amarinder not only rejected this request butalso tore his resignation letter.
Even state unit chief, Sunil Jakhar, announced in the thenCabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh that he is sendinghis resignation to party President Sonia Gandhi over the issue.
Meanwhile, joining the group now is Charanjit Singh Channi,MLA from Chamkaur Sahib Assembly Constituency. Charanjit is also the Dalit faceof Congress. It is being said that Sidhu, along with the two ministers –Sukhjinder and Charanjit – met at Pargat Singh’s residence in Jalandhar Cantton May 6.
Now, this meeting is surprising. Political experts opinethat these developments raise the question if Sidhu is beginning to getinternal support from the Captain government?
Also, the political experts believe that Sidhu plans toupset the status quo of Punjab politics. Well, the Congress Party had framedcharges of indiscipline against Sidhu and forwarded to Harish Rawat, ex-CMUttarakhand and General Secretary, AICC, I/C Punjab PCC.
The tensions between the two, Navjot and Captain, escalatedto such extent that the latter made a public challenge to the former to contestfrom Patiala while declaring that the doors of his party, Congress, have beenclosed for Navjot.
However, Navjot Sidhu is learnt to have told the partyleaders that he would not leave the party at any cost, and all he wants is theCaptain government to act on the promises made and deliver justice in thesacrilege cases.