Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday dismissed speculation over the recent meeting held at former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's residence, saying there was nothing unusual about senior party leaders meeting each other. He asserted that the Congress remains united and would soon be seen fighting together against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.
Reacting to questions over the meeting, Raja Warring said Channi is a senior Congress leader, a former Chief Minister and the Chairman of the party's Campaign Committee. He said there is nothing wrong if party leaders meet him.
"There is nothing unusual about leaders meeting Channi. He is our senior leader and everyone is free to meet him," Warring said.
However, he made it clear that disciplinary action would be taken against those leaders who crossed the line by speaking against him publicly.
"One or two leaders have made statements against me and crossed all limits. Action will definitely be taken against them," he said, adding that there is no point commenting on people who are no longer part of the Congress.
Taking a swipe at the BJP, Raja Warring said the party should stop dreaming of forming a government in Punjab. He claimed that only the Congress is in a position to form the next government in the state.
"The BJP can try as much as it wants, but no Congress worker or leader will join the Bharatiya Janata Party," he said.
Responding to speculation surrounding senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa's recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Warring said the meeting should not be viewed politically.
He said Randhawa belongs to a family with deep roots in the Congress and that his father, Santokh Singh Randhawa, was also a veteran Congress leader. According to Warring, Randhawa had met Amit Shah only to discuss issues related to his constituency and security and not to join the BJP.
"He has already clarified this himself," Warring added.
The Punjab Congress chief reiterated that Charanjit Singh Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, K.P. Singh and other senior leaders are all respected members of the party and are free to meet the Congress high command whenever they want.
"There is no restriction on any leader meeting the high command," he said.
Referring to Thursday's meeting, Raja Warring said Channi did not make any statement against him and neither did any of the senior leaders present there.
"In the coming days, you will see all of us travelling together, sharing the same stage and standing united. The entire Punjab Congress will fight together against the AAP government," he said.
Raja Warring also said Bhupesh Baghel would soon visit Punjab and meet all senior party leaders as part of the party's organisational activities.
