Ruling party puts up united face in all-party meeting

Chandigarh, October 25

The all-party meeting called by the Charanjit Singh Channi-led government on Monday gave an opportunity to the Congress top brass to send across the message of unity, amid efforts to defuse tensions among pressure groups within the state unit.

State’s interests paramount: Channi

Asked by the SAD and AAP to clarify on meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CM Channi said it was the duty of every CM to meet the PM and Union Home Minister soon after assuming office. “You can cut my veins to ascertain my love of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat. If it is about the interest of my state and its people, I don't care two hoots about CM's position.”

While PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu shared stage with the CM, Deputy CM Sukhjinder Randhawa and Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, besides attending the meeting, sat together at a press briefing thereafter. Subtle unease among the party leaders was, however, palpable.

A senior party leader said given the opportunity to assert his point, Sidhu had his way as his long-pending demand for outright rejection of the three farm laws on the floor of the House was acknowledged with the government deciding to bring a resolution in this regard in the coming Vidhan Sabha session.

“After days of reported differences between CM and Sidhu over the appointment of DGP and AG, besides other issues, newly appointed Punjab affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary and Youth Congress leader Krishna Allavaru have been working overtime to bring the two state leaders on the same page since little time is left for the elections,” said a party leader.

Sidhu will also attend party’s meeting in Delhi on Tuesday. “In the coming days, another issue of bringing down the power rates and required action on the power purchase agreements was also being addressed. Action has been initiated against the transport mafia. Sidhu has been flagging the issues,” said a top functionary. — TNS

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