Soni wants Channi as CM face in 2022 elections

Amritsar, October 20

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Voices demanding Charanjit Singh Channi as the Congress’ CM face in the 2022 Assembly elections were raised from the dais of Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal at Ram Tirath in Amritsar today.

The CM was here to take part in a state-level programme of ‘pargat divas’ (birth anniversary) of Bhagwan Valmiki, composer of the epic Ramayana.

Amid reports of trouble within the Congress with state head Navjot Singh Sidhu locking horns with the CM, Deputy CM OP Soni, minister Raj Kumar Verka, Speaker Rana KP Singh and MLAs Harpartap Singh Ajnala and Tarsem Singh DC, during their address, said the Congress would contest the ensuing Assembly elections under the tutelage of Channi. They said he was the CM not just for a four-month span, but for the next five years as well.

The CM laid the foundation of a pictorial-cum-panorama worth Rs 25 crore in the shrine complex which would be instrumental in perpetuating the teachings, life and philosophy of the saint. He also announced a budgetary grant of Rs 5 crore annually for the already existing the Bhagwan Valmiki Ji Chair at Guru Nanak Dev University.

Conceding the long-pending demand of ‘safai sewaks’, the CM announced a weekly off besides other gazetted holidays for them at par with the other government employees.

Taking a dig on those who blame him for giving freebies at the cost of state exchequer, he said it was people’s money which was being used on their welfare. “I am crystal clear in my approach. The state exchequer money has to be spent on people. The Opposition leaders looted it for their personal gains,” he said.

Making a resolve to fill over one lakh vacant posts in different departments shortly, Channi said all these vacancies would be filled purely on the basis of merit in a fair, impartial and transparent manner.

For the poor and economically weaker sections of society, the CM said the process to allot five-marla plots would be completed shortly. “Me and my colleges aim to light earthern pots on Diwali to handover the symbolic possession to eligible beneficiaries under the Basera scheme,” he said. — TNS