More trouble for Punjab Cong, Ashwani Sekhri too may join Akalis; Capt Amarinder speaks to him

Rajmeet Singh

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 27

Disquiet among traditional Hindu leaders, who have been “politically marginalised” in the four and a half years of the Congress government, saw the party’s top leadership get in the firefighting mode on Sunday.

Days after two former ministers, Hans Raj Joshan, an OBC leader and Dr Mohinder Rinwa, a Hindu leader joined the SAD, reports of another traditional Congress leader, Ashwani Sekhri, a former Batala MLA, likely to join the Akalis in the next few days has sent the top leadership into a tizzy.

Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh reportedly talked to Sekhri, dissuading him from leaving the party. Dr Raj Kumar Verka and Minister Sunder Shyam Arora also talked to Sekhri.

The former Batala MLA did not respond to calls. But sources close to him said he was upset over being ignored and politically marginalised ever since the Congress government was formed.

Denying reports, the Chief Minister said there was no question of Sekhri leaving the party. The CM said he spoke to him today and assured him that all his concerns would be addressed. He said Sekhri was a dyed-in-the-wool Congressman, who had spent his whole life with the party.

Sensing the disquiet among traditional Congress leaders, the SAD had been trying to poach its Hindu and OBC leaders who have not been politically rehabilitated in the four and a half years of the Congress rule.

Punjab subordinate Services Selection Board Chairman Raman Bahl said the traditional Congressmen had been ignored at the cost of outsiders. Hailing from a traditional Congress family from Gurdaspur, Bahl added the traditional leaders had been pushed to political oblivion.

Another senior party leader Anish Sidana blamed the Majha brigade, comprising ministers who were till recently close to the Chief Minister, for changing the dynamics of politics in the party and leading to the marginalisation of many traditional Congressmen.

Party leadership in a tizzy

• Days after two former ministers, Hans Raj Joshan, an OBC leader, and Dr Mohinder Rinwa, a Hindu leader, joined the SAD, reports of another traditional Congress leader, Ashwani Sekhri, a former Batala MLA, likely to join the Akalis in the next few days has sent the top leadership into a tizzy
• Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh reportedly talked to Sekhri in an attempt to dissuade him from quitting the party