Sidhu ‘names’ Sekhri halqa incharge; Akali MLA fumes

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Batala, January 19

Even as Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has repeatedly said the “halqa incharge” system has ceased to exist, his Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu publicly “appointed” former MLA Ashwani Sekhri as the area chief of Batala and gave him “unbridled powers” to administer the town.

Sitting SAD MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, while addressing a press conference today, raised the red flag and termed Sidhu’s announcement as “unconstitutional.”

The minister made the announcement on Wednesday in the presence of several dignitaries, including Gurdaspur DC, Batala SSP and two vice- chancellors.

“Both the CM and his minister are at variance with each other. Amarinder says there is no such system in place while Sidhu is publicly admitting that such a structure is very much in vogue. So much so he clandestinely passed instructions to Municipal Committee (MC) officials to listen to Sekhri. I will take up the issue in the next session of the Vidhan Sabha,” said Lodhinangal.

To this, Sidhu said, “It is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. Why did not Lodhinangal resign when the SAD appointed him as the Batala halqa incharge for five long years after he lost the 2012 elections? He even laid down foundation stones of development works in his capacity as the area chief. He should first set his own house in order before pointing an accusing finger at me.” Sekhri said the legislator should either get the foundation stones, which he laid during his tenure as the area chief, removed or should be ready to face an FIR.

“I am collecting photographs of the foundation stones. After gathering concrete evidence I will approach the SSP and urge him to get a case registered against Lodhinangal,” said Sekhri.