Sampla dispels resignation rumours

Sanjeev Singh Bariana & Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh/New Delhi, Jan 17

Union Minister and Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla today brushed aside rumours that he had resigned from the party. The controversy had arisen following a spate of reports in the media that he was upset over the announcement of Som Parkash as party candidate from Phagwara.

Sources said party president Amit Shah had communicated to Sampla to be “careful” and also that the party would not take any public show of dissatisfaction lightly. Sampla has been asked to campaign “vigorously for all candidates”.

One of the major points of difference between Sampla and Som Parkash was police cases against BJP workers. The Sampla group said at least 38 cases were registered against BJP workers and Som Parkash did not help them.

Sampla, in the press release, said he was occupied with a “special poll mission” that kept him out of touch with the media as well as his friends. “Certain people are using the occasion to spread rumours that I had resigned”.

Talking to The Tribune, Som Parkash said: “I am not aware of any protest by Sampla. As far as the issue of cases against party workers was concerned, I will never defend the law-breakers. In any case, registering FIRs is the job of the police, not mine.” Meanwhile, senior BJP leaders also rallied behind Sampla in New Delhi, terming the rumours of his resignation a “conspiracy by the Congress to defame a tall Dalit leader”.

On Sampla’s meeting with Shah, a senior party functionary, said: “During election time, it is natural that state unit chiefs would be meeting Shah.”