Harish Rawat briefs Rahul Gandhi on Punjab, will visit Chandigarh next week

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 28

AICC Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat today met former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and briefed him on the developments in the state where the turf war between Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and state chief Navjot Sidhu is far from over and is, in fact, escalating.

Rawat will be in Chandigarh next week to meet the CM and Sidhu in a bid to attempt a resolution as Punjab leaders are learnt to have urged the high command to pacify the warring factions in the interests of the party.

Sources said Rawat apprised Rahul of the ongoing outreach of the state government, concerns some ministers and MLAs voiced about the CM, progress on the 18-point manifesto programme, recent intemperate remarks by Sidhu’s advisers and continuing parallel shows of strength by the two leaders.

The resignation by Sidhu’s adviser Malwinder Mali was also discussed and Rahul is learnt to have asked Rawat to reach out to both the CM and Sidhu.

Rawat made light of Sidhu’s “will give a befitting reply if not given the freedom to decide” remarks saying “everyone had their own style of speaking and all state leaders were polite”. The reaction followed a tweet by Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari, who questioned the high command’s silence on Sidhu’s comments daring the party. “I will go to Punjab in two-three days and meet the CM, Sidhu and anyone else who wants to meet me,” Rawat said.

The high command wants the two camps to resolve their differences and work together in larger electoral interest, but no amount of admonishment appears to be helping the reconciliation process.