Amid unease, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Charanjit Singh Channi fly to Kedarnath

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2

Having been apparently convinced that Advocate General (AG) APS Deol was on his way out and that he was on board regarding other important decisions, PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu resumed his duty by joining an interaction programme of Congress MLAs with Punjab affairs in charge Harish Chaudhary and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi here this evening.

Earlier in the day, Sidhu along with CM Channi, Chaudhary and Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh flew to Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath Temple in a state helicopter.

“After taking over the charge, it was Chaudhary’s first interaction with all MLAs to know their issues, get suggestions to prepare the roadmap for the 2022 Assembly elections,” said a party leader.

The meeting, which took place after Sidhu and others returned from Uttarakhand, is being seen as a confidence-building attempt in the light of former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh quitting the party to form his own political outfit — Punjab Lok Congress. A senior leader privy to the development said the pilgrimage was intended at projecting a picture of unity. The ice has been broken between CM Channi and Sidhu, but unease prevails as the exact position will only be clear in the coming days.

Initially, CM Channi and Rana KP Singh had to fly to Kedarnath, but Chaudhary and minister Pargat Singh held back-to-back meetings with Sidhu at Punjab Bhavan and later at the minister’s residence to convince the PCC chief to join them.

En route to the temple, the leaders halted at Dehradun, where Chaudhary’s predecessor Harish Rawat hosted them over breakfast.

At the holy temple, both CM Channi and Sidhu shared a joint picture. Sidhu tweeted: “Life is fragile, handle with prayer… At Kedarnath, the heavenly abode of Lord Shiva.” On his part, CM Channi wrote: “Prayed for the progress of Punjab and prosperity of its people.” In Dehradun, Sidhu said there was no greater ‘dharm path’ (religion) than ‘kartavya path’ (duty). “Dharm is about feeding the poor and spreading joy. It is the message of Lord Mahadev… I have come here to seek His blessings for the welfare of Punjab.” Rawat said: “He (Chaudhary) is one of those youths we can learn a lot from. I am confident Congress will win in Punjab”.

What PCC chief told Cong MLAs

• There are no differences with anyone in the party
• Need to work together to bring Congress back to power
• Will soon start campaigning for the upcoming polls

3 Others fly too

Food Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, MLA Sanjay Talwar and Capt Amarinder Singh’s ex-political secretary Capt Sandeep Sandhu separately flew to Kedarnath Temple

All is well

All is well in Punjab unit now. We had a challenge and have overcome it. I am confident this situation will prevail. Harish Rawat, ex-incharge