Minister writes to Modi over separate stage

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 31

Cooperation Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa today took strong exception to the decision of the Modi-government to construct a parallel stage for the inauguration of the historic Kartarpur Sahib corridor.

He sought immediate intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end this unsolicited controversy, while blasting the move as brazen violation of the Centre-state relations, especially federal spirit of the Constitution.

In a letter to the PM, Randhawa said, “I have been having regular meetings with all Central agencies concerned while making preparations for the inaugural function and never even a hint was given about the Centre was planning a separate stage. Moreover, all these agencies have been regularly inspecting the stage construction and other preparations for the inaugural function by the Punjab Government.” He said the decision to go in for a separate stage at this juncture when the state government had already completed about 90 per cent of the work, was nothing but playing petty politics and that too on such a pious occasion.