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Tag: Punjab Congress

  • All the Captain (Rahul)’s males

    A day after Congress introduced a change of guard in its Punjab unit, supporters of the brand new working presidents celebrated their elevation in numerous elements of the state. The Congress excessive command had on Sunday late undertaken a significant revamp of the social gathering within the state by making Navjot Singh Sidhu the PPCC chief whereas appointing 4 working presidents — Sangat Singh Gilzian, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Pawan Goel and Kuljit Singh Nagra.
    Pawan Goel (64)
    In Mansa, the district bar affiliation attorneys celebrated the appointment of advocate Pawan Goel because the PPCC working president. Goel (64) belongs to Jaito constituency in Fairdkot district. His grandfather, Lala Nand Ram Sharma, was a freedom fighter.
    “My grandfather along with Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru had led the Jaito Morcha in 1930 against arbitrary orders of Maharaja of Faridkot and both were jailed as well,” stated Goel.
    He added, “Even my father, Lala Bhagwan Das, remained a Cabinet minister in Darbara Singh government in Punjab. My father was senior vice president of the PPCC as well. However in 1988, he was assassinated during dark days of terrorism.”
    Sources near the household claimed then PM Rajiv Gandhi had visited Bhagwan Das’s home 20 days earlier than he was killed. Pawan Goel was earlier president of district Congress committee of Faridkot, and had even remained normal secretary of PPCC.

    ExplainedWhy 4 working presidents for Punjab CongressWhile naming Navjot Singh Sidhu, a Jat Sikh, because the Punjab Congress chief, the AICC additionally appointed 4 working presidents in an effort to stability the caste and spiritual equations within the state that goes to polls early subsequent yr. While former Faridkot district Congress president Pawan Goel is a Hindu; Jandiala Guru MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny belongs to a Scheduled Caste and Tanda Urmur MLA Sangat Singh Giljian is a backward class chief. Kuljeet Singh Nagra, the Fatehgarh Sahib MLA, is a Jat Sikh — the third on a key publish aside from Sidhu and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. Nagra and Danny are additionally thought-about near former AICC chief Rahul Gandhi.

    When requested about his priorities, he stated, “We will be working as a team for the betterment of the state. We will be meeting to chalk out our responsibilities, it is just an announcement as of now. We have significant tasks ahead of us. Whatever the high command tells us, we will abide by that.”
    Gurlabh Singh Mahal, an advocate from Mansa, stated: “Appointment of Goel as a working president is an honour for this family of freedom fighters and their sacrifices.”
    Kuljeet Singh Nagra (51)
    Two-time MLA from Fatehgarh Sahib constituency, Kuljeet Singh Nagra, too stated that the social gathering will work as a group.
    On Monday, Nagra was given a heat welcome in his constituency the place he addressed supporters and thanked the excessive command for giving him this duty .
    Nagra, who’s said to be near the Gandhi household, stated, “We will resolve differences if any within the party and we are here to work as a team…We will work hard as a unit ahead of polls in the state. I thank the high command for giving me this responsibility and I will do my best for the welfare of masses in the state.”
    The 51-year-old had fought his first election in 2012 from Fatehgarh Sahib constituency and defeated SAD’s Prem Singh Chandumajra, whereas in 2017 as effectively he gained defeating SAD’s Didar Singh Bhatti.
    He remained a senate member of the PU within the 90s, whereas he had additionally served as chairman and president of Punjab University Students Union (PUSU) throughout his faculty days.
    Apart from this, he had remained normal secretary of the All India Youth Congress and even Punjab Youth Congress from 1995 to 1997. Earlier, Harbans Lal from Congress used to contest from Fatehgarh Sahib and he was a three-time MLA as effectively, nonetheless Lal was denied ticket in 2012 which was given to Nagra. Lal had left the social gathering and had fought election as an Independent at the moment. In 2019, nonetheless, Harbans Lal joined BJP.
    In June, Nagra had overtly criticised the choice of Punjab authorities giving jobs to MLAs’ sons on compassionate grounds. After, Bhishm Pandey, son of Congress MLA Rakesh Pandey and Arjun Partap Singh Bajwa, son of Qadian MLA Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa got jobs on compassionate grounds, Nagra had issued a video message by which he had appealed the CM Amarinder Singh , the Cabinet and the social gathering to roll again this choice.
    Sukhwinder Singh Danny (44)
    Jandiala MLA and Congress social gathering’s Dalit face, Sukhwinder Singh Danny (44), is son of former Cabinet minister (late) Sardul Singh Bandala.
    After serving as Youth Congress vice chairman, Danny bought ticket from Faridkot parliamentary constituency in 2009 from Rahul Gandhi’s quota. It was a time when Rahul was selling younger leaders and Danny benefitted from technique.
    While he belonged from Majha, he was given a ticket from a Malwa seat that he didn’t win.
    Danny couldn’t get a ticket in 2014 regardless of making determined makes an attempt.
    Finally, luck favoured Danny in 2017 when he was elected to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha for the primary time from his house turf — Jandiala constituency in district Amritsar.
    He has served as member of committee on welfare of SCs, STs & BCs of Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 2017-19.
    While Danny was by no means a near Amarinder Singh camp, he was additionally by no means among the many rebels both. He is near Jasbir Singh Dimpa, who’s MP from Khadoor Sahib. Danny’s Jandiala constituency is a part of Khadoor Sahib. Dimpa, nonetheless, had taken took place in favour of Captain Amarinder Singh.
    Danny, nonetheless, maintained his distance from infighting between Captain and Sidhu whereas remaining low profile.
    When Dalit leaders like Lal Singh and Shamsher Singh Dullo have been hoping to achieve from present disaster in Punjab Congress, Danny’s identify as working president shocked many as he was by no means seen to be in race to get any place.
    After his appointment, Danny thanked Rahul Gandhi, CM Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu for his appointment.
    “We won 2019 elections in Punjab despite the Modi wave. Then we won all the local bodies elections. We will again win elections in 2022. There is no divide in the party. Even if there are some issues, high command will tackle them and party will win next election as one. Congress party is a family and there could be differences among members. But elders of family will resolve these differences,” stated Danny.
    He added, “Captain Amarinder Singh is our tallest leader and CM. Navjot Singh Sidhu is our senior leader and now Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee president. Captain Amarinder Singh has vast experience and Navjot Singh Sidhu has popularity and zeal. The combination of both leaders would make Congress victorious.”
    Sangat Singh Giljian (67)
    Three-time MLA, Sangat Singh Giljian (67), represents the Tanda Urmur Assembly section in Hoshiarpur district.
    He was the one MLA from Hoshiarpur who had attended a gathering with former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu in Jalandhar on Sunday hours earlier than Sidhu’s appointment as PPCC chief.
    Talking to The Indian Express Giljian, who was appointed advisor to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh in 2019, stated: “I got an indication about Sidhu becoming PPCC chief and because of that I went to meet him yesterday….It is a good step taken by the Congress high command because people wanted Sidhu as PPCC chief and it will boost the morale of the ground-level workers as they are of utmost importance in winning the election in 2022.”
    Giljian has had his variations with the state management as regardless of successful thrice in a row from Tanda Urmur he was not chosen for the ministerial berth by the Congress social gathering in 2017. He was additionally ignored on the time of Punjab Cabinet’s growth in 2018.
    In 2007, he was denied a ticket by the social gathering and had then contested as insurgent and gained the seat. Later, the Congress was pressured to take him again in partyfold.
    In 2018, when he was not inducted within the Cabinet, Giljian had resigned from his social gathering posts together with from All India Congress Committee (AICC) and as vice chairman of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). However, he had not give up as an MLA.
    From the OBC Lubana neighborhood, Giljian then had alleged that backward courses have been ignored within the Cabinet growth. The Ludana neighborhood has a powerful presence in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Gurdaspur and Patiala districts.
    With no political background, Giljian was the primary member of his household to hitch politics. He went on to win three elections in a row — 2007, 2012 and 2017 and is among the many senior most leaders from Doaba area.
    He had remained as village Giljian sarpanch for 15 years and in addition remained Congress Zila Parishad member for 10 years. He then contested first election for the Assembly in 2002, which he misplaced to SAD candidate Balbir Singh Mianai by a margin of round 1,250 votes.
    “I had lost my father just a week before the 2002 Assembly elections and could not focus on my campaign during that last election. I lost by a small margin but after that people in my constituency never let me down because I have a strong bond with the people of my constituency.”
    Giljian is a frontrunner who’s strongly linked together with his electorates. Much earlier than the social media revolution, Giljian was amongst one of many first Punjab leaders to faucet the social media to buttress his election marketing campaign in 2007, after being denied the Congress ticket from Tanda Urmur. He would ship voice messages by way of telephone calls that generated lot of help for him.
    Locals stated that as a frontrunner he’s out there to them round the clock.
    Sangat’s father was an agriculturist and he himself was into farming and in addition owned a rice sheller earlier than coming into politics. He has three brothers. His elder brother, who’s within the US, Mahinder Singh Giljian, is now president of the Overseas Congress now.

  • Feud in Punjab Congress: Amarinder to fulfill Sonia on Tuesday

    Amid a simmering feud within the Punjab Congress, state Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is lastly set to fulfill AICC interim president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday, sources stated.
    Amarinder had sought time from Sonia a number of days in the past when he had gone to New Delhi to look earlier than the the occasion’s three-member committee on Punjab, led by Mallikarjun Kharge. However, he was not given an appointment.
    Now, it’s learnt, Sonia Gandhi has referred to as him for a gathering on Tuesday night. Amarinder will go away for Delhi on Tuesday morning, sources stated. It is unclear if Rahul Gandhi might be part of the assembly.

    The assembly holds significance because the Congress appears to be like for a solution to alter ex-minister Navjot Singh Sidhu within the occasion organisation or the state authorities.
    Sidhu had met Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi just lately, and the excessive command was learnt to have labored out a formulation to resolve his rising feud with the Chief Minister. Amarinder’s assembly with Sonia is being seen as a one other step to kind out the dispute.

    Amarinder enjoys a great relationship with Sonia as he had been a detailed buddy of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
    Priyanka, alternatively, has been supporting Navjot Sidhu, regardless of his frequent criticism of the Chief Minister. Sidhu has opened a entrance in opposition to the CM ever because the authorities misplaced a case pertaining to Behbal Kalan firing within the High Court.

  • Capt vs Sidhu: On the bottom, fault strains turn into fear strains

    “SIX MONTHS in the past, the consensus was that we’ll win arms down in 2022, now we discover ourselves standing in a queue.’’ In Attari, 3 km from the Pakistan border, that is how native Congress MLA Tarsem Singh D C described the predicament that has gripped the ruling celebration in Punjab.
    Split down the center with lower than a 12 months to go for Assembly elections, the Congress is trapped in a face-off between Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and challenger Navot Singh Sidhu. So a lot in order that the celebration’s excessive command in Delhi was compelled to arrange a three-member panel to try to discover a means out, even summoning about 150 leaders from Punjab final month to get a way of the disaster.
    Since then, the embattled state unit has been ready for phrase from Delhi. The Indian Express, in the meantime, travelled throughout Punjab — Doaba, Majha and Malwa — and spoke to no less than 25 celebration legislators to report the phrase on the bottom.
    It discovered a number of dissonant notes, and one refrain: the excessive command should discover a speedy decision, ideally one which retains Amarinder and Sidhu collectively, earlier than it’s too late. Apart from Punjab, solely Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have Congress-led governments in energy.
    In Punjab, the place the Congress at present has 80 seats within the 117-member Assembly, the political disaster was triggered early April by the High Court’s clear chit to SAD supremo and former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal within the Kotkapura police firing on protesters within the desecration case.
    Sidhu, who had been mendacity low after quitting the Cabinet in 2019 following a reshuffle by which he was divested of his portfolio, stepped out to slam Amarinder for “mishandling” the investigation. Soon, he was joined by a clutch of ministers.
    Within days, the political warmth escalated with Sidhu amplifying a variety of complaints on the grassroot-level towards the federal government: excessive energy tariffs as a result of alleged defective buy agreements, lack of jobs, allegations of inaction towards drug traffickers, and murmurs of the Chief Minister being inaccessible.

    Several MLAs from the Malwa area, which has 69 Assembly seats, advised The Indian Express that the celebration should punish these responsible of sacrilege. “This concern decimated the Akalis. If we don’t do the rightful and the needful, it can value us,’’ mentioned Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon, Faridkot MLA. The Majha and Doaba areas have 25 and 23 seats, respectively.
    Dalvir Singh Goldy, a first-time legislator from Dhuri in Sangrur, mentioned the “general feeling” is that nobody monitored Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, who headed the SIT probing the case. “It’s odd that he quit the police force and joined AAP soon after the High Court quashed the SIT,” Goldy mentioned.
    A senior MLA from Malwa, who has gained each election he’s contested thus far, mentioned he made it clear to the three-member panel that if the celebration didn’t make good on its guarantees, he wouldn’t contest subsequent 12 months. Another MLA agreed: “If you see a well in front of you, will you jump?”
    Referring to the protests towards energy outages, an MLA from Doaba requested: “Didn’t the power department know that a power plant was being decommissioned, and there would be higher demand in the paddy season?” The Chief Minister holds the ability portfolio.
    Besides, complaints of inaccessibility and pink tape echoed throughout the state. Some of the youthful MLAs complained that it isn’t simple to fulfill the Chief Minister and his officers. “I am fortunate to be born with a legacy, I have contacts, I can muscle my way through but not others,” mentioned an MLA from a political household in Malwa.
    In Amritsar, an MLA identified that even Ministers, particularly those that had rebelled towards the Chief Minister, had been typically lacking within the secretariat. “I can perceive the CM has to cope with the Centre and different issues, however what about these Ministers?’’ the MLA mentioned.
    Calling for removing “non-performers”, two MLAs from Malwa identified that solely three Ministers from the BJP authorities in neighbouring Haryana retained their seats in 2019.
    Many additionally resented what they described as “promises that were impossible to keep”. “(Poll strategist) Prashant Kishor coined the slogan, ‘ghar ghar rozgar’. But now we have to undergo the implications. Where are the roles? And Capt sprinkled salt on folks’s wounds by giving an inspector’s job to the son of a rich legislator,’’ mentioned one other MLA, referring to the controversy over authorities jobs being given to the sons of two MLAs, Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa and Rakesh Pandey.
    But then, there’s the massive query that nobody has a solution to: How to rehabilitate Sidhu?
    Asked if the state celebration chief’s put up was an possibility, ex-MLA from Garhshankar in Doaba, Luv Kumar Goldy, is obvious: “We are pure Congress workers, we have been working for the party all our life. Yet, you have people parachuting from BJP, AAP and Akali Dal, and getting ministerial berths by eating into our share.”
    Some are “wary of Sidhu’s mood swings”. A Jalandhar legislator near Sidhu recounted how, at a current assembly, he conveyed to the previous cricketer that if he’s already stopped taking his calls now, what would occur if he had been to turn into CM. Another MLA from Ludhiana mentioned Sidhu must be saved as a “bullara” (speaker) as “people enjoy listening to him”.
    Without naming anybody, Randeep Nabha, the MLA from Amloh, cautioned that “personality-based and vindictive politics are a deterrent to development”.
    What’s clear, in the meantime, is that there isn’t a name for sweeping change.
    Almost all of the MLAs The Indian Express spoke to mentioned they’d funds for improvement of their constituency. “Capt saab has just lately launched new grants. You ought to see the parks and photo voltaic lights I’ve put in within the villages in my constituency. We are additionally constructing playgrounds,’’ mentioned Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, from Baba Bakala in Majha.
    In Malwa, a critic of Amarinder mentioned he had “no problem with Capt continuing as the CM as long as he fulfilled his promises, and was more accessible”. As a veteran MLA put it: “What we actually want is a powerful redressal system.’’

    A legislator from Ludhiana mentioned most of their woes can be addressed if the CM begins attending his workplace twice or thrice per week. “We don’t have an issue with him, however together with his coterie. He has given unbridled energy to his officers and that’s resulting in red-tapism,’’ the MLA mentioned.
    In Ludhiana, Kuldeep Vaid, a former Punjab-cadre IAS officer who’s the MLA from Gill, referred to as Amarinder an “able administrator”. A Dalit chief from Doaba mentioned Capt and Sidhu are poles aside. “Capt is an mental, he writes books, he’s the guarantor of communal concord. Yes, it’s not simple to fulfill him, however is there anybody who can change him at this juncture?’’ the chief mentioned.
    “We don’t need the excessive command to foist a newcomer on our head,’’ mentioned Navtej Cheema, a legislator from Sultanpur Lodhi in Doaba.
    Many are hopeful that this storm will blow over. Likening the rift to a “family quarrel”, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, who defeated SGPC chief Bibi Jagir Kaur within the Parliamentary seat of Khadoor Sahib in Majha in 2019, mentioned the celebration will stand united. “When elders intervene, all differences are forgotten,” he mentioned.
    But Sunil Dutti, MLA from Amritsar North, spoke for a lot of when he mentioned: “The sooner we resolve the problem, the higher will probably be.’’
    (With Anju Agnihotri Chhaba & Kamaldeep Singh Brar)

  • No assembly with Sonia or Rahul; deadlines for Capt to satisfy guarantees

    In an uncommon transfer that indicators its rising displeasure over the rift inside its Punjab unit, the Congress excessive command Wednesday got here out in public to say that it has directed Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to work on implementing the occasion’s 18 key ballot manifesto guarantees inside a timeframe.
    Simultaneously, the occasion’s three-member committee on Punjab, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, mentioned it might name Singh’s rising rival Navjot Singh Sidhu to Delhi for discussions. Besides, the Chief Minister, who was in Delhi for a two-day go to, returned to Punjab with out assembly both Congress president Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi.
    The excessive command, nonetheless, additionally signalled that it was not proud of the latest outbursts of Sidhu, a problem which the Chief Minister had flagged with the committee. Singh is learnt to have informed the committee that it must rein in Sidhu as his statements may have an effect on the occasion with lower than a yr left for state elections.
    A day after the Kharge panel held detailed discussions with the Chief Minister, the excessive command made it recognized that it has set deadlines for him to fulfil the guarantees of 2017.
    The guarantees embody taking motion within the Bargari sacrilege case; cracking down on drug rackets, and sand and transport mafia; offering 200 models of free energy to city households; scrapping of “faulty” energy buy agreements; scholarships for Scheduled Caste kids; and, waiver of loans for Dalits.
    “There are 18 issues on which the AICC, the party, has told the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister will hold a press conference and make these public,” Harish Rawat, AICC basic secretary answerable for Punjab, mentioned.
    Party sources mentioned the Kharge panel’s discussions with the Chief Minister have been centred on the progress of implementation of the guarantees. Sources mentioned Singh has already requested his crew in Punjab to start out engaged on the 18-point programme.
    On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi met Rawat, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, MP Manish Tewari, Rajya Sabha MP Partap Singh Bajwa, state Finance Minister Manpreet Badal and occasion MLA Inderbir Bolaria. Over the final three days, Gandhi is learnt to have met about 20 leaders from Punjab.
    Following his assembly, Jakhar mentioned the excessive command was taking the disaster “seriously” and shortly, the “entire party will fight unitedly” and the “crisis will be over”.
    A celebration chief, who had met Gandhi within the final 48 hours, mentioned he appeared to have made up his thoughts. “He just heard me. It seems he has made up his mind on what needs to be done,” the chief mentioned.
    A senior chief mentioned Sonia Gandhi and Rahul may have met the Punjab Chief Minister. “Whether he sought an appointment or not is immaterial. The CM was in Delhi for two days, they could have met him,” the chief mentioned.
    Rawat mentioned the Congress president is predicted to take key selections associated to Punjab within the first or second week of July. However, opinion within the Punjab Congress appeared divided after the newest developments.
    “These are like tasks given to a school kid. I don’t know what the high command is trying to do. They are humiliating the Chief Minister, and unnecessarily complicating matters,” a pacesetter near Singh mentioned.
    However, one of many Chief Minister’s critics mentioned the excessive command had asserted itself for the primary time. “He has been cut to size. His desperation, too, is evident. He has appeared before the panel twice, going to the Parliament office of Kharge yesterday. Has any Chief Minister ever been summoned like this? Look at his decision to give government jobs to the sons of two MLAs…all of these show that he is feeling the heat,” the chief mentioned.
    In Punjab, one of many two MLAs, Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa, mentioned he had written to the Home Department to convey the shortcoming of his son to take up the federal government job. Besides Fateh’s son, the state authorities had determined to provide a job to MLA Rakesh Pandey’s son as Naib Tehsildar.

    On Wednesday, referring to this concern, Jakhar blamed “a few advisors” of the Chief Minister who have been “giving him wrong suggestions and making him take wrong decisions”.
    Rawat, in the meantime, mentioned whereas 95 per cent of the manifesto guarantees have been carried out, some are “work in progress”. “He (Amarinder Singh) will be looking into drugs and sacrilege… He has promised that he will scrap some agreements with private thermal plants,” Rawat mentioned, including that the excessive command has requested Singh to take motion within the Bargari case inside the ambit of legislation.

    On the timeframe given to Singh, Rawat mentioned: “He told us that he will get the matters examined legally and get back to us.” Rawat additionally mentioned that the excessive command has taken notice of the “issues” Sidhu has raised.
    On Sunday, talking to The Indian Express, Sindhu had mentioned that whereas he isn’t in search of any submit within the authorities or occasion, he can’t be used as a “showpiece” by “selfish, vested interests” to win elections. Asked about Sidhu’s statements, Rawat mentioned he’ll look at them.

  • Surveys to tickets, Punjab Congress leaders fall for Prashant Kishor imitators

    As if the infighting was not sufficient, the Congress is dealing with a brand new menace in Punjab: impersonators of political strategist Prashant Kishor duping partymen after promising beneficial surveys and ballot tickets for the state elections subsequent yr.
    On Tuesday, police in Ludhiana registered a case towards unidentified individuals for dialling social gathering leaders and asking them to publicly criticise the Chief Minister. It now seems that one other gang of Kishor impersonators was busted final month after it fleeced “at least 30-40 Congress leaders from Ludhiana, Bathinda, Jalandhar, Amritsar and Sangrur”.
    Police sources mentioned the gang duped Congressmen of Rs 5 crore at the very least. “The gang-members were caught while trying to dupe MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid. He got suspicious when the impersonator asked for a gift to submit a survey report in his favour. The police laid a trap and two men were arrested from Jalandhar on May 11 and 13, respectively,” mentioned police sources.
    Officers recognized these arrested as Rakesh Kumar Bhasin and Rajat Kumar Raja, and the important thing impersonator, who was nabbed later, as Gaurav Sharma. All of them hail from Amritsar, they mentioned.
    “Sharma is a gambler who bets lakhs day-after-day. He has perfected Kishor’s model of talking after watching him on TV. He not solely duped leaders from Punjab but in addition Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana and West Bengal.
    There are instances registered towards the gang in different states however police weren’t in a position to pin them down,” a senior officer mentioned.
    Most of these duped by the gang weren’t keen to be recognized, and refused to file a proper police criticism. Police sources mentioned a number of leaders, together with MLAs, a former Mayor, and candidates within the earlier state elections, had been focused.
    When contacted, Vaid, who represents Gill in Ludhiana, mentioned he discovered the impersonator “very convincing”.
    “I had met Kishor earlier, including recently when he had met MLAs in Chandigarh to ask about feedback from constituencies. Still, the impersonator was so convincing that for a moment I thought it was Kishor on the line. He had done his homework, and was talking to me as if he had actually surveyed my constituency. I got several calls from him over a period of 4-5 days,” Vaid mentioned.
    “But then, the impersonator demanded Rs 10 lakh from me as a gift for two MLAs from other states who would conduct a survey and submit a report in my favour to make sure that I got a ticket. I became certain that this could not be Kishor. I spoke to my friends in the party and the police. I was told that there was a complaint from Sangrur, too, by Daman Thind Bajwa (a Congress candidate in 2017). We accompanied police to Jalandhar and the gang was arrested,” mentioned Vaid.
    In her police criticism, Bajwa mentioned she obtained suspicious when the imposter requested her to deposit Rs 7 lakh.
    In the most recent case, Ludhiana Police Commissioner Rakesh Aggarwal advised The Indian Express that he couldn’t reveal particulars of an ongoing investigation.
    Kishor was drafted by Amarinder Singh in January 2016 to advise the social gathering on technique for the 2017 elections. In March this yr, the Chief Minister appointed him as his principal advisor.

    Over the previous couple of months, Kishor performed a key position in serving to the TMC retain energy in West Bengal earlier than asserting that he needed to take a break from ballot administration. He didn’t reply to requests from The Indian Express looking for remark.
    The impersonators, in the meantime, have left the social gathering’s senior state management red-faced, particularly at a time when it’s scrambling to sort out widening fault traces inside the organisation.
    Just a few leaders, together with Navjot Singh Sidhu, have raised the banner of revolt towards the Chief Minister after the High Court put aside an SIT investigation into the incidents of firing at Behbal Kalan and Kot Kapura.

    AICC chief Sonia Gandhi has constituted a three-member committee, headed by Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, to try to resolve the disaster.
    In the most recent incident of Kishor impersonators in Ludhiana, police have registered a case below a number of IPC sections, together with 420 (cheatring), and part 66-D of the IT Act towards unknown callers for “inciting leaders to criticise the CM”. The FIR was registered on a criticism by Inspector Amandeep Singh who cited a tip-off from an informer.

  • Captain Amarinder Singh meets MLAs, Jakhar gives to resign as dissenters await Sonia Gandhi’s phrase

    A day after the three-member panel submitted its report back to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Punjab CM spent his day assembly MLAs at his official residence, whereas the dissenters determined to attend for a phrase from the social gathering excessive command. Amid all this, state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar mentioned that he could be pleased to step apart if doing that may strengthen the social gathering. Jakhar was responding to hypothesis that he is perhaps changed as PPCC chief.
    On Friday, Amarinder spend the day understanding of his official residence. According to sources, a number of MLAs had complained to the three-member panel that Amarinder was not accessible for conferences as he principally stayed at his private farm home – Mohinder Bagh — in Parol village close to Chandigarh.
    Amarinder had shifted to his farm home about two years in the past earlier than the Covid pandemic. Ever since, he was seen at his official residence hardly ever. Amid Covid, he has been attending a lot of the conferences, together with the Cabinet and different official conferences, just about.
    A gaggle of MLAs, led by Kuldip Singh Vaid met the CM at his official residence Friday. This group included MLAs Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, Satkar Kaur, Dr Harjot Kamal, and Balwinder Singh Laddi.
    Speaking concerning the assembly with MLAs on Friday, sources mentioned that amid dissenting voices in opposition to Amarinder, Vaid was instrumental in getting these MLAs collectively and meet the CM. A number of days in the past, 5 social gathering MPs had additionally met the CM at his non-public residence.
    One of the MLAs mentioned that they’d simply gone to get their pending works executed. Another MLA Fateh Jung Singh Bajwa was additionally amongst those that met the CM, however individually, at his official residence.
    Bajwa is the youthful brother Partap Singh Bajwa, who has been against the CM. Fateh Bajwa was additionally among the many dissenting voices earlier siding with the group of Cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Randhawa and Charanjeet Channi.
    Interestingly, Balwinder Laddi can be thought-about Partap Bajwa’s aide. His presence at CM’s residence is a curious case, sources mentioned.
    Dissenters wait and watch
    Congress leaders, who had raised a banner of revolt in opposition to Amarinder, in the meantime, have adopted a watch and watch coverage after the committee submitted its report and reportedly mentioned that Amarinder was firmly in saddle.
    A member of the dissenters group mentioned that they’d anticipate AICC chief Sonia Gandhi to behave.
    “We will see what she does. After that we will react,” the Congress chief mentioned.

    ‘Panel wrong in making it Capt vs Sidhu’
    However, Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa mentioned that the committee had unfairly made it a struggle between CM and Navjot Sidhu.
    “For us it is not a fight between Navjot and CM. For us, it is a fight for the survival of the Congress. We never went there to say that Navjot Sidhu should be made the CM. We told them that we came to power by swearing by Gutka Sahib that we will eliminate the menace of drugs. We promised justice in Bargari and Behbal Kalan. We also promised cancellation of PPAs and elimination of mafia rule. Where do we stand today? If the committee had to make it a fight between him and Sidhu, why were we called there? They should have heard them both and accommodated Sidhu wherever they wanted,” mentioned Randhawa.
    He added: “The committee has made it a fight between Captain and Sidhu. What had happened to our issues? If the committee wanted then they should have called both of them. Why were we called? Why was out time wasted?”
    Ready to resign: Jakhar
    PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar Friday mentioned he was able to resign if his resignation would assist the Congress grow to be stronger.
    Talking to the media on Friday, Jakhar mentioned, “If the Congress becomes strong by removing Sunil Jakhar, then that must be done today…If party is strengthened with my resignation, I am ready to resign. I can make any sacrifice for the party. Sunil Jakhar will never be an impediment in the way of Congress’ unity and strength. If Congress is strengthened, I am ready to resign,” he mentioned.
    His response got here after the committee reportedly indicated that there could also be adjustments within the social gathering organisation in Punjab.
    Jakhar had handed his resignation to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh throughout a stormy Cabinet assembly earlier. The CM had, nevertheless, torn his resignation.
    When requested that the panel has mentioned that Amritsar MLA Navjot Singh Sidhu needs to be “suitably accommodated” within the revamped unit, Jakhar agreed that he ought to get a “respectable position”. However, he informed reporters that they need to not speculate over the panel report.
    “Let the committee’s report come, you should not do guess work on that. I have not read the report,” he mentioned.
    Demand for SC CM
    Joginder Singh Mann, former minister and Congress chief in a letter to Sonia Gandhi has demanded that the Congress ought to title an SC chief as Punjab CM.
    He mentioned that the “current impasse between Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and stalwart Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has lowered the morale of Congress workers and has given energy to the opposition parties to raise finger on the current government. Ending the standoff between both the big guns of the party is the need of hour to bring the Congress party back into power and save the state”.

    He mentioned he was related to the Congress social gathering since 1972 and had been a former minister, and an MLA thrice.
    “I had sought time from Congress panel. However, I was not able to get time to flag my concern about prevailing crisis in party,” he mentioned.
    “In wake of the entire prevailing situation, I will like to request you to appoint a leader from the SC community as Chief Minister of the state for remaining period of six months. Punjab is to go for polls early next year and the infighting is not a good sign. Appointment of an SC leader as Chief Minister will not only steal the thunder from the opposition but will also give new vigour to party to contest ensuing polls. This move will also help in satisfying the grudges of both Captain Amarinder Singh and Sidhu against each other and both will jointly work for ensuring win of the party,” he mentioned.

  • Six-time MP from Amritsar Raghunandan Lal Bhatia passes away at 100

    Senior Congress chief and six-time MP from Amritsar Raghunandan Lal Bhatia handed away after a short sickness, his relations stated on Saturday.
    He was 100. Raghunandan Bhatia died at a personal hospital right here on Friday night time and he’s survived by his son Ramesh Bhatia, daughter Saroj Munjal and youthful brother J L Bhatia, they stated.
    He was first elected to Lok Sabha in 1972 from the Amritsar parliamentary constituency, and once more re-elected from the identical seat within the 1980, 1985, 1992, 1996 and 1999 elections as a member of the Indian National Congress.
    Raghunandan Bhatia had additionally served because the governor of Kerala from 2004 to 2008 and the governor of Bihar from 2008 to 2009. He had additionally served as minister of state for exterior affairs in 1992.
    He, as a senior member of the Congress, held numerous positions within the social gathering, together with the publish of Punjab unit president and normal secretary.
    Punjab Congress chief and MLA Raj Kumar Verka condoled Raghunandan Bhatia’s demise and stated he was the ‘Bhishma Pitamah’ of Indian politics.

  • ‘Feeling suffocated’: Ex-congress MLA to affix Shiromani Akali Dal

    Amid infighting within the Punjab Congress, the celebration’s former MLA Dr. Mohinder Rinwa is ready to affix Shiromani Akali Dal in presence of its chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday.
    Rinwa, who represented the Fazilka constituency, confirmed the event to The Indian Express. “I was feeling suffocated in the Congress set up. Then I decided to call it quits. Nobody values a leader in Congress. The CM does not answer the calls of his party men even when he is not in power. Here, Sukhbir Singh Badal never misses a call,” he stated.
    Rinwa was thought-about “powerful” in his constituency as he was in a position to get transfers and postings of officers finished within the space. He was nonetheless not appointed chairman of any board of the company.

    Rinwa is a two-time former MLA. Once he had contested as an Independent. Later he was elected on the Congress ticket.
    In 2017, Rinwa had protested towards celebration ticket given to Davinder Singh Ghubaya throughout the Assembly elections. He had even threatened to contest as an unbiased. Later he was placated.
    Sources within the Congress stated no efforts have been made to cease him from becoming a member of the rival celebration.

  • Punjab Industries minister slams Navjot Sidhu

    Amid a disagreement between Chief minister Amarinder Singh and Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister Sunder Sham Arora on Thursday got here out in assist of the CM when he mentioned that the repeated statements of Sidhu towards occasion management confirmed indiscipline and irresponsible behaviour.
    In a press release, the minister reminded Sidhu that Congress had registered a large victory underneath the management of Amarinder Singh, who was named as Chief Minister of Punjab by the occasion excessive command.
    Arora acknowledged that the occasion grew to become stronger in Punjab underneath the visionary and ready management of Amarinder. Questioning the Chief Minister’s management again and again by Navjot Sidhu is the same as difficult occasion’s management, he mentioned.
    The minister identified that if Sidhu had any subject he may increase the identical inside the occasion platform however not by means of social media and statements towards the Chief Minister, which was weakening the occasion. He suggested Sidhu to honour the occasion’s insurance policies as a disciplined chief of Congress.
    Arora claimed that the Congress had prolonged due respect and honour to Navjot Sidhu because the CM gave him a major Cabinet portfolio and regardless of that he couldn’t fulfil the aspirations of the folks.

  • ‘Pakistan ready to supply oxygen to Punjab but Centre in way’

    Punjab Congress on Monday alleged that Centre was not cooperating in getting oxygen imported for Punjab from Pakistan to fight the second Covid wave.
    PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar on Monday mentioned whereas Pakistan’s business had sufficient Oxygen and CM Amarinder Singh had mooted the plan to import it from them, Centre was coming in the way in which.
    Jakhar, who particularly participated within the particular Cabinet assembly on Monday, to take inventory of state of affairs arising out of Covid-19 and a number of other different points confronting the state authorities, mentioned that if a single life was misplaced in state as a consequence of Oxygen scarcity, then Centre could be accountable.
    “The CM told us that he has been taking up the matter with Union Home Ministry and Union Minister of External Affairs. But he has not got a positive response yet. If we get this oxygen, we will bear the financial burden on our own. This is an emergent need to save the people of the state,” Jakhar mentioned.
    Meanwhile, Congress chief and Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla has written a letter to PM Narendra Modi to develop a hall to get oxygen from Pakistan to cope with the scarcity in Punjab.
    In his letter to PM, Aujla wrote: “You are well aware of the fact that our hospitals are facing alarmingly high shortage of liquid oxygen, ventilators, Bi PAPs, oxygenators, PPEs etc. due to spike in Covid-19 cases. In response to this emergency our neighbouring countries have offered help which should be welcomed with open arms. The government of Pakistan and Edhi Foundation have offered support to India to help us fight this deadly wave of Covid-19.”
    “I represent the holy city of Amritsar which is located on international border — around 350 km from Panipat (nearest oxygen plant) and just 50 kms from Lahore, Pakistan. The daily requirement of oxygen in Amritsar is around 30 tonnes whereas allocated quota for Punjab is too less and that too is in feeble supply. Amritsar is presently receiving oxygen supplies from Panipat in truck-tankers which is not a reliable system of uninterrupted supply as there are not enough and spare truck-tankers available to cover for breakdowns,” learn the letter.