Badal calls on former PM Manmohan Singh, Jaitley

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 26

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today met former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Sources say Badal also wanted to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but the same could not materialise, perhaps due to the latter’s focus on the earthquake in Nepal and parts of India.

Badal, who was in the national Capital to attend meetings of Northern Zonal Council and NITI Aayog’s sub-group of chief ministers yesterday, first met Manmohan Singh this evening and then Jaitley. Sources said while Badal’s one-on-one meeting with Manmohan Singh at his residence lasted for about 20 minutes, he met Jaitley for about five minutes.

HS Bains, adviser to the CM, maintained that the meetings were mere courtesy calls. “The Chief Minister was in the Capital. So, he made the courtesy calls before leaving for Punjab,” he said.

Bains said: “Badal used to meet Singh when he was PM. He is meticulous with regard to courtesies and the meeting should be seen in this light.” On the meeting with Jaitley, Bains said it was over a cup of tea and without agenda. “The meeting was not planned,” he added.

Badal, who is often accompanied by his party leaders and government officials to meetings here, met the former PMalone. His administrative and political entourage was asked to wait outside the venue. Even his son and Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was not part of the meeting. He, however, accompanied Badal Senior during his meet with Jaitley.

Another point which raises eyebrows is the official version that the engagement with Jaitley was not planned, though those related to Punjab affairs here knew about the scheduled meeting.