‘Truce’ reached, Navjot Sidhu to resume work soon

Rajmeet Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 9

Sensing the urgent need to see Navjot Singh Sidhu back in business as the PCC chief, with time running out for the ruling Congress to roll out its election campaign, the party and CM Charanjit Singh Channi finally decided to accept Advocate General APS Deol’s resignation, after routing it through the Council of Ministers.

Prays for corridor reopening

PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Tuesday held a prayer meeting near the Integrated Check Post at Dera Baba Nanak for the re-opening of the Kartarpur corridor. “I hope the Centre throws open the gates soon so that people can pay obeisance at the shrine,” he said.

AAP MLA ruby quits

Hours before resigning from the primary membership of the party, Bathinda Rural AAP MLA Rupinder Kaur Ruby’s met CM Channi and Punjab affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary, fuelling reports of her joining the Congress.

Nothing against AG

There is no personal grudge with Deol. We demanded his removal due to his conflict of interest. — Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Former MLA

At the moment, Sidhu appears to have prevailed upon the Channi government to heed to his demand for replacing the AG and Punjab DGP. After two days of hectic parleys with Punjab affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary in the middle, the ice between CM Channi and Sidhu was broken last evening following an assurance by the CM of accepting Deol’s resignation and other demands, including required action in the sacrilege probe and STF drug report on drug trafficking. Sidhu is expected to assume charge at the PCC office in the coming days.

It is to be seen whether CM Channi allows Sidhu’s intervention in selecting the new AG, though names of DS Patwalia and Anmol Rattan Sidhu are again doing the rounds. CM Channi said Deol’s resignation had been sent to the Governor for approval and the new AG would be appointed by Wednesday. PWD Minister Vijay Inder Singla was sent in a state helicopter to bring back Sidhu, who was in Amritsar, for a joint press conference with CM Channi after today’s Cabinet meeting.

Ahead of the meeting, the CM had a brief talk with Sidhu at Punjab Raj Bhavan guest house on crucial decisions such as bringing down the sand gravel prices to Rs 5.50 per cubic feet and regularisation of contract staff. Regarding Sidhu’s demand to replace the DGP, CM Channi clarified a new panel of officers for the appointment was awaited from the Union Public Service Commission.

The party leadership wants to keep Sidhu in good humour in the run up to the Assembly election. Sources say the truce has been reached, at least for the time being, as the DGP is yet to be replaced. Sidhu did partially acknowledge efforts being put in by CM Channi, saying the Cabinet decision today on the sand and gravel prices was the first step taken in the right direction as the sand and liquor cartel had to end. Stressing the need for a roadmap to mop up financial resources, Sidhu said he would give full cooperation to the government as PCC chief.