MoS Som Parkash contradicts party, praises move

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 16

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanth had two days ago slammed the state government for playing divisive politics on the creation of Malerkotla as a new district in Punjab, Union Minister of State Som Parkash has taken a divergent view on the issue.

Even the party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh had yesterday tweeted on the issue, taking sides with the UP CM. He even issued a statement terming CM Capt Amarinder Singh’s decision to create Malerkotla as a new district as “administratively imprudent and politically communal”.

However, today Som Parkash, in his three tweets, appreciated Capt Amarinder’s move, saying, “I congratulate the people of Malerkotla and thank CM Capt Amarinder Singh for declaring Malerkotla as a district. It is a rich tribute to the Nawab of Malerkotla Sher Mohammad Khan, who protested the execution of the two Sahibzadas. Malerkotla is a symbol of communal harmony…”

The Hoshiarpur MP has also gone on to demand Phagwara as new district, “I request the Punjab CM to declare Phagwara as a district.”

In the evening, he even issued a statement saying, “Phagwara residents face a lot of inconvenience in going to Kapurthala district to get their work done. Phagwara city is separated from the district headquarters by a distance of 40 km. The creation of Phagwara as a separate district will give relief to the residents”.

Subhash Sharma, general secretary, BJP Punjab, said: “The party maintains the same stand as of Tarun Chugh. I am not aware of Som Parkash’s tweets. I will surely check them and talk to him.”