Former Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh ismaking headlines for the past few years over his very public disagreements withPunjab Congress head Navjot Singh Sidhu. The episode of Captain vs Sidhu hasescalated, turning into Capt vs Congress now.
With Capt Amarinder quitting Congress and announcing anew party that will be open to alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),several leaders of the grand old party are lashing out at Singh. Amid thesepolitical disputes, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa haslaunched a personal attack against Capt.
In his latest interview with NDTV, Randhawa demanded aprobe over Captain Amarinder’s close friend Aroosa Alam’s alleged links withISI. Captain has furiously retaliated.
But,Who is Aroosa Alam?
Aroosa Alam is a Pakistani defence journalist consideredto be a close friend of Captain Amarinder Singh. The journalist has beenvisiting India for over 16 years on several occasions.
She also visits Captain Amarinder in Chandigarh on aregular basis. She, however, no longer visits Patiala since the family detests.
The journalist had met Amarinder Singh during his 2004visit to Pakistan.
Aroosa has once attended Capt’s oath ceremony. She wasamong those who sat in the VVIP chairs for Singh's swearing-in ceremony in2017.
She addresses Capt Amarinder as “Maharaj Sahab”
Diving into Aroosa's personal life, she is the daughterof socialite Akleen Akhtar, who influenced Pakistani politics in the 1970s. Hermother was well-connected inside the military hierarchy.
About her relationship with the ex-Punjab CM- Alam in2007, when the two were spotted together several times, had clarified that theywere 'just friends.'
The People's Maharaja, Captain's biography, features achapter on his relationship with Aroosa, who has publicly stated that herfriendship with Amarinder Singh is beautiful and will last long.
She had also expressed her pride in the relationship.
Statementsby Randhawa on Alam’s alleged ISI links
Punjab Deputy CM and home minister Sukhjinder SinghRandhawa, talking about security threats in Punjab, said, "Captain saysthat Punjab faces a threat from the ISI. So we will also probe the relation ofAroosa Alam with ISI."
The statement came as a response to the question overAroosa Alam's viral photos and videos with Pakistani military officers.
Amarinder Singh retaliated by saying Aroosa Alam had beenvisiting India with clearances from the centre for 16 years and asked MrRandhawa if he was alleging that the NDA and previous UPA governmentsassociated with the ISI.
"You were a minister in my cabinet @Sukhjinder_INC.Never heard you complain about Aroosa Alam. And she'd been coming for 16 yearswith due GoI clearances. Or are you alleging that both NDA and @INCIndia ledUPA govts in this period connived with Pak ISI?" @capt_amarinder,"Raveen Thukral, media advisor to Capt Amarinder quoted him.
Capt’s advisor, Mr Thukral also tweeted a picture of Alamwith Congress head Sonia Gandhi.
The ex-CM further said that instead of focusing on lawand order in the face of terror threats, the Punjab administration has deployedpolice on a "baseless probe at the cost of Punjab's safety."
Capt had previously criticised Navjot Sidhu for attendingImran Khan's swearing-in ceremony in 2018 and hugging Pakistani army chiefQamar Javed Bajwa. Alam's name had cropped up then too.