Chandigarh, June 23
In a day of hectic political activity in the BJP-SAD camps, SAD legislator Sarabjit Singh Makkar today tendered an unconditional apology to Industries and Local Bodies Minister Manoranjan Kalia to normalise relations between the two parties. At the same time, the SAD today expelled Ludhiana councillor Kawaljit Singh Karwal for leading an attack on Tehsildar and Executive Magistrate GS Benipal.
The “operation damage control” began early in the day with Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal landing up at the residence of the BJP minister accompanied by senior party leaders and Makkar.
Makkar tendered an unconditional apology to Kalia in the presence of other BJP leaders like party president Rajinder Bhandari, BD Tandon and MM Mittal. Kalia had only a one-line response when he said, “What can I say now that Badal sahib has come himself. I will try to forget the incident (Makkar abusing and insulting him)”.
However, the BJP leadership made it clear that only the matter pertaining to the row between Makkar and Kalia had been resolved. The two alliance partners would hold yet another meeting shortly for the purpose of ironing out differences that have crept up at the party level. The BJP has been demanding greater participation in running the government and more authority and respect from all quarters within the government.
The spat between Kalia and Makkar became public after Makkar went to Kalia’s residence and publicly accused him of delaying the clearing of two files pertaining to shopping malls Makkar and his family were building in Jalandhar. Kalia retaliated by saying that the government had already provided relief to Makkar to the tune of Rs 50 lakh and he was seeking undue favours. Upset over the SAD
MLA’s behaviour, the BJP decided to abstain from work and boycott the last Cabinet meeting. Though the two parties are yet far from attaining a thaw in relations, they have achieved some headway after the apology.
Meanwhile, the SAD, that came under criticism for shielding its Ludhiana councillor Kawaljit Singh Karwal, despite his direct involvement in the attack on Benipal, today expelled him from the primary membership of the party. Yesterday, the government had suspended Ludhiana Sadar police station SHO Mandeep Singh for offering him an air-conditioned room to sit in and “samosas” and “jalebis” to eat, when the councillor visited the police station after being summoned as an accused.
SAD spokesperson Daljeet Singh Cheema said the decision to expel Karwal was taken by SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is currently abroad. The core committee of the party that met in Chandigarh late last night had expressed a strong sentiment to expel Karwal in the interests of the image of the party. The decision was then conveyed to Sukhbir Badal, who granted his approval.
The bureaucracy in Punjab is up in arms over the attack on their colleague and has announced a silent protest till those guilty of the attack on Benipal are arrested and tried.
