Rift: CM skips meet to broker peace

Malout, January 13

Two days after a shoe was hurled at Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in his Lambi assembly segment, he today preferred to skip the meeting called by him to broker peace between district units of the SAD and the BJP, which are at loggerheads for about two months.

Ahead of the CM’s arrival at the venue, some BJP leaders and policemen had a verbal duel over the alleged ill-treatment given to a local leader.

Rajesh Pathela Gora, Muktsar district president, BJP, said: “The CM later told former state chief Kamal Sharma over the phone that he returned mid-way after learning about the brawl.”

The meeting was later chaired by Sharma. The local SAD leadership reportedly assured to give due importance to BJP activists, besides apologising for the past incidents. Sharma said: “The CM called of the meeting as it was delayed and he had to reach Chandigarh for some prior engagement.” — TNS