Post-Gurjeet outburst, Warring says won’t tolerate indiscipline

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday warned his party leaders against breaking discipline and indulging in factionalism to gain higher positions if they want to stay clear of strict action against them.

Warring said party leaders should learn a lesson from poll debacles in Haryana and Maharashtra last year that were the result of “factionalism” in Congress units.

The statement came a day after senior Congress leader Rana Gurjeet Singh fired a salvo at Warring, calling him a “selfish leader”.

Rana’s outburst, who was speaking on a private news channel, came amid impending reshuffle in the state party unit after the Congress appointed former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bupesh Bhaghel as the All-India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge for Punjab.

Rana made the remarks responding to the denial of party ticket from Anandpur Sahib in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll.

“I still consider Warring as my leader, though not from my heart but I respect the party decision,” Rana had added while expressing his desire to become the state party chief if the party high command wished so.

Reacting to it at a function organised by the Fatehgarh Sahib District Congress Committee, Warring said Rana was a a veteran leader and he respected him.

“If he has any issue, it can be taken up on the party platform and not on the public forum,” he said, adding that every leader, irrespective of the position, must maintain discipline and decorum while making public statements.

Without referring to the MLA, Warring said, “Those creating indiscipline will have to face the music and even if Raja Warring being the president creates indiscipline, he must be punished.”

He said the Punjab Congress must learn a lesson from the party’s debacle in Haryana and Maharashtra on account of “indiscipline and factionalism” as many leaders laid claim to the chief minister’s position.

“The Congress in Punjab lost the 2022 poll due to this factor. People are looking forward to bring the Congress back to power in the 2027 Assembly elections, so the leaders should shun factionalism, indiscipline and the lust for the post of CM to strengthen the organisation,” said Warring.