2 ministers, 5 MLAs back Charanjit Channi, Pargat Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 18

Two ministers, including Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and five MLAs today came out in support of minister Charanjit Singh Channi and MLA Pargat Singh over their alleged arm-twisting by aides of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, as the pressure group of party leaders comprising ministers Sukhjinder Randhawa and Channi, MP Partap Bajwa and Pargat at a meeting decided to continue to raise voice over unfulfilled poll promises, including punishment to perpetrators of sacrilege and police firing cases.

No factionalism, says cong spokesperson

• The Congress has downplayed the ongoing public display of factionalism in Punjab, calling it ‘diversity of views in a democracy’
• Congress spokesperson Supriya Srinate said: “I don’t think terming these differences and diversity of views as factionalism is right. What is happening in Punjab is not factionalism. It is diversity of opinion which is the bedrock of democracy.”

Political secy must go

If it (‘threat’ to Pargat) has not happened at CM’s insistence, the political secy should be removed. This vendetta against own leaders is damaging the party’s prospects. – Partap Bajwa, MP

CM’s insecurity to fore

Leaders raising people’s issues are strengthening the party… but anyone who speaks the truth is your enemy. So, you threaten colleagues, exhibiting fear, insecurity. – Navjot Sidhu, Congress leader

Though no timeline was given to carry forward their agenda, the leaders who gathered at Channi’s residence discussed the circumstances under which he had been dragged into a two-and-a-half-year-old case of alleged harassment of a woman IAS officer by the Punjab Women Commission Chairperson.

The initial plan of holding a joint press conference led by minister Channi was cancelled at the intervention of Punjab affairs in charge and AICC general secretary Harish Rawat, who promised intervention by the party high command.

While MLAs Nathua Ram and Surjit Dhiman were present at Channi’s residence today, legislators Kiki Dhillon, Dr Raj Kumar Verka and Fateh Jung Bajwa are learnt to have expressed their solidarity over the phone with Pargat and Channi.

The participants said attention was being diverted from the core issue of sacrilege and police firing by raking unnecessary controversies against those raising voice against the government.

Initially, the pressure group had decided not to challenge the leadership by not indulging in the number game, but the alleged arm-twisting of leaders seems to have reshaped the political drama, putting the government on the back foot.

After the meeting, Randhawa asked the women panel chairperson to respect the dignity of the constitutional body. “It is not a political body and its chairperson cannot threaten to sit on dharna,” said the minister, as he sought to know why she didn’t raise the matter all this while.

“I will be the first to go to the Vigilance office if the government wants to open an inquiry against him,” he added. Pargat Singh seconded Randhawa’s views.

Meanwhile, Congress’ Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat, who is learnt to have attended the dissidents’ meeting via video link, will hold one-on-one with party MLAs, including ministers, by the weekend. Rawat had last evening advised the CM baiters to stay put for a few days.

Sources said Rawat was being sent on the instructions of the party high command after reports of the deepening crisis reached Delhi. They said the high command was upset at the turn of events and alleged arm-twisting of party MLAs and ministers.