Political row over appointment of Punjab minister’s OSD

The appointment of Shaleen Mitra from Delhi as the OSD to Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh has triggered a political spat in the state.

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Mitra was the project manager of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission and had also remained on the staff of Satyendar Jain, an AAP leader and former Delhi minister.

Several Opposition leaders have questioned the move and said the AAP government had been appointing persons from outside the state on important administrative positions, which is hurting the pride of Punjabis.

While Congress leader Pratap Singh Bajwa took to social media asking why Punjab was being “remote- controlled” from Delhi,

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg pointed out to the appointment of Delhi-based Prashant Kishor as principal adviser to the Chief Minister during the Congress regime in 2021.