Read in Hindi: पंजाब में संकट, नवजोत सिंह सिद्धू आज करेंगे कांग्रेस कमेटी से मुलाकात
New Delhi: The first round of meetings of Amarinder Singh with the rebel central team and state leaders is underway in the Punjab Congress on Monday with a three-member panel set up by Congress President Sonia Gandhi to resolve differences between its leaders and 25 MLAs. After the meeting, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is expected to attend the meeting at 11:30 am on Tuesday.
The Punjab Congress panel constituted by the Congress President to resolve differences between its leaders on Monday held its first meeting with 25 MLAs at the party’s ‘war room’ at 15 Gurdwara Rakabganj Road in the national capital (GRG).
The committee is seeking to resolve differences between Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and his former cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu and fight factionalism in the state unit ahead of next year’s assembly polls.
Sidhu had targeted the Punjab Chief Minister on May 21, 2015 for the incidents of disgrace of Guru Granth Sahib and the killing of two people in police firing.
He had tweeted, “Knowing what is right and what is not is the greatest cowardice.”
On 27 April, Amarinder Singh challenged Sidhu to contest against him from Patiala.
The Punjab Chief Minister had said that indiscipline will not be tolerated at any cost in the party and if Sidhu wishes to contest against him, he is free to do so, but this will lead Sidhu to face the fate of General JJ Singh. Lost his security deposit in the election.
He had also asked Sidhu to clearly state whether he was a member of the Congress party or not.
Responding to Amarinder Singh’s remark, Sidhu had said that he was only “fighting for justice”.
“Efforts to derail the conscience of Punjab will fail … My soul is Punjab, and the soul of Punjab is Guru Granth Sahib ji. Our fight is to bring justice and punishment to the guilty. One assembly seat in one breath of discussion Not even worth it!” Sidhu said in a tweet.
Yesterday, Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar said the meeting was for ‘churning’. “It is not about one person but about Punjab and Congress. The meeting will take at least three days. MLAs, MPs and senior leaders will meet during this time and see how to strengthen the party.”
Jakhar told the media that the issue will be resolved soon and everyone has expressed their opinion in the meeting.
“Some people who try to find opportunities in the midst of difficulties will also be exposed. Those who stabbed them in the back will also be accounted for so that the party can benefit and fight the upcoming elections together.”
Panel member JP Agarwal said on Monday that there is no difference of opinion. “Today (Monday) we have spoken to 25 MLAs. There are no differences. There was no talk on the leadership of Captain Amarinder Singh. Everyone has stated their point. Small issues have to be resolved. We will give our report. Tomorrow (June 1), Navjot Singh Sidhu will come.”