Pargat Singh: State must take steps to curb sand, liquor mafia

Chandigarh, February 25

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As the Punjab Congress has launched a concerted campaign to fight the 2022 Assembly elections under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh, disquiet against the state leadership surfaced when Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh, a close associate of Navjot Singh Sidhu, on Thursday questioned the performance of his own government.

Not satisfied with the four-year performance of the government, Pargat Singh said, “The government needs to work on issues like controlling the drug, sand and liquor mafias.” The former Olympian’s utterances have come when the party high command and Punjab affairs in charge Harish Rawat has been working for return of Sidhu to the mainstream politics, either in the Cabinet or the party platform.

Incidentally, both Sidhu and Pargat were conspicuous by their absence at a pre-wedding lunch hosted for party MLAs and MPs by the Chief Minister in connection with the wedding of his granddaughter. Congress MP Paratap Singh Bajwa, a bete noire of the Chief Minister, was present at the lunch.

Pargat Singh’s statement at this juncture when PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar, after the results of the civic body polls announced ‘Capt for 2022’, has put the state party leadership in a spot. The former Olympian also said it was the prerogative of the party high command to decide the CM face. Jakhar said he had only said the election would be fought under the leadership of Capt Amarinder Singh. Sources said with Harish Rawat in town on Thursday, there were efforts by some ministers to control damage. Rawat was not available for comments. — TNS