MP Chaudhary holds show of strength on Holi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, March 22

Days after Jalandhar Congress MP Chaudhary Santokh Singh got embroiled in a controversy over ‘video sting’ by a private channel, he organised a show of strength in the form of Holi celebrations at his place.

The MP and his son Vikramjit Chaudhary extended invitation to party MLAs, councillors, office-bearers, zila parishad members, block samiti members, sarpanches and workers, many of whom turned up at his place. Perhaps a little insecure since the ‘sting’ on him, he attempted to show it to the party high command that he still remains a popular leader and had people by his side.

To ensure that he is seen by the high command, he arranged for a professional videographer who arranged all video clips and still images in a way that it covered all prominent leaders from Jalandhar and remained impactful. In the video, Chaudhary is seen coming out of his place, being first greeted by a pandit, then his son and then the party workers.

An overall charged-up atmosphere is shown wherein the MP, his wife Karamjit Chaudhary and their son are seen greeting all visitors by applying a tilak of Holi colours on their foreheads. They are shown to be involving all workers in the festivities as bhangra is also performed on the beats of dhol. The MP even uploaded the video on Facebook tagging the Indian National Congress, AICC chief Rahul Gandhi and Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh in it.

One of the prominent party leaders who attended the function said: “Had the MP taken suggestion from me, I would have definitely not allowed him to go for a show of strength in the garb of Holi as it rather reflected his insecurity and desperation for getting the Lok Sabha ticket. Everyone knows that the MP has never celebrated Holi like that earlier. Now that he would do it this time, just days after the controversial video, it would send across a negative message”.

Prominent among those who joined the celebrations at the MP’s residence were MLAs Rajinder Beri, Bawa Henry and Chaudhary Surinder Singh, Chairman of Markfed Amarjit Singh Samra, former MLA Jagbir Singh Brar, Mayor Jagdish Raja, Senior Deputy Mayor Surinder Kaur, DCC president (urban) Baldev Singh Dev, DCC president (rural) Sukhwinder Singh Lally, councillor Pawan Kumar, Mandeep Singh Jassal, Balraj Thakur, Jagdish Gagg, Prabhdyal, Manoj Mannu, Deepak Gupta, Mintu Juneja, Mahinder Singh Gullu, Amrik Singh Bagdi and around 150 sarpanches.

All MPs rivals for the Congress ticket, including former ministers Mahinder S Kaypee and Sarwan S Phillaur and Jalandhar West MLA Sushil Rinku, were conspicuous by their absence.